It was a monumental moment of victory as Celine Dion made her return to the stage at the Paris 2024 Games’ opening ceremony. For Dion and her fans, it has been a challenging time witnessing her struggle with a rare, progressive condition known as stiff person syndrome.
Multiple U.S. outlets and the French newspaper Le Parisien hinted at Dion’s performance earlier on Friday as fans eagerly awaited her rendition of Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à l’amour.”
Dion’s rendition of the French language classic was a success: American singer Kelly Clarkson, who was co-hosting the NBC broadcast, was brought to tears on live television in reaction to the moment — at one point having to pause while speaking.
This was set to be the superstar’s first concert performance since her diagnosis was disclosed, and a significant public moment for Dion, 56, to demonstrate that she can perform once again and overcome her health struggles.
Excitement began to build online leading up to Dion’s performance on Friday, with one user on X humorously likening it to the movie Titanic. In the post, Titanic’s main character Rose DeWitt Bukater is depicted as an older woman reflecting on her lived years.
The games commenced with the opening ceremony on Friday, preceding most competitions — soccer and rugby had already started matches on Wednesday.
Friday’s opening ceremony took place along the River Seine instead of indoors like many previous Olympic Games’ opening ceremonies. Authorities mentioned a four-mile-long flotilla of nearly 90 boats carrying athletes from over 200 countries past crowds of spectators.
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The NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke state that the cause of Dion’s illness remains unknown.
In her 2024 documentary, “I Am: Celine Dion,” the pop icon invites viewers into her life to witness some very personal moments dealing with the condition. It is characterized by “stiffness of the trunk or limb muscles,” and causes “frequent muscle spasms” that can be debilitating, as Dion has described.
