Celine Dion Shares Emotional Message During First Concert in 6 Years

Larry Dechant,Sasha Wayman Sun, September 13, 2026 at 9:19 PM UTC

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Originally appeared on E! Online

Celine Dion’s love for performing will go on and on.

The Grammy winner was overcome by emotion as she took the stage during the first night of her 16-show residency at Plenitude Arena in Paris Sept. 12, marking her first concert performance since taking a step back from the spotlight in 2022.

“I had promised myself not to cry,” Dion told her 35,000 fans during the opening moments of her show, per Variety. “But I’m so happy to see you all. I missed you. I’m going to sing like you without crying.”

After delivering her first song of the show, “On ne change pas,” which translates to, “We don’t change,” she added, “Here we are. I’m standing on stage in this city that I love so much, thanks to your support and your love.”

“I have to admit, though, that the road was rocky,” she continued. “The journey was longer than expected, with unplanned stops along the way. But I hung in there. A faint ray of light in the distance, deep in the mountains. I believed in it. And here it is. The sun—the sun is here. The sun, right in front of me.”

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Dion—mom to René-Charles, 25, and 15-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy with her late husband René Angélil—previously shared her diagnosis with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause severe muscle spasms and stiffening, per Mayo Clinic, in December 2022.

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At the time, the condition forced her to postpone and eventually cancel remaining dates on her Courage world tour. But now, Celine’s voice is once again taking center stage.

“I made a promise to be back on stage,” she continued during the concert, according to Variety. “So here I am, singing for you and singing for me, singing live! Thank you so very much for your support, your patience and if I may say so, I am everything I am because you loved me.”

Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage

In March, Dion announced she’d gifted herself a residency in the city of love as a 58th birthday present to herself.

“This year, I’m getting the best birthday gift of my life,” she told fans in a social media video at the time. “I’m getting the chance to see you, to perform for you.”

And while she’s been taking time to focus on her health, Dion assured fans that she’s been “feeling good” lately. In fact, the “My Heart Will Go On” singer shared she couldn’t have done it without them.

“Over these last few years, every day that’s gone by, I’ve felt your prayers and support, your kindness and love,” she said. “Even in my most difficult times, you were there for me.”

For a deeper look into Dion’s health battle, keep reading...

April 29, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic had forcedCélineDionto press pause on her Courage World Tour in 2020 and she was looking forward to getting back on the road in 2022. But that spring the singer said she'd bepostponing her return until February 2023while she continued to deal with a lingering health issue.Anote on her websitefurther explained that she'd been treated for "severe and persistent muscle spasms which are preventing her from performing, and her recovery is taking longer than she hoped."Dion said in a statement, "I need to be in top shape when I'm on stage. I honestly can't wait, but I'm just not there yet… I'm doing my very best to get back to the level that I need to be so that I can give 100 percent at my shows because that's what you deserve."Dec. 8, 2022

Dion shared that she had beendiagnosed with a "very rare" progressive neurological disordercalled stiff-person syndrome, surely the first time that most people had ever heard of it."As you know, I've always been an open book," she said in an Instagram video. "I wasn't ready to say anything before, but I'm ready now. I've been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it's been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I've been going through."She suffered muscle spasms that affected "every aspect" of her daily life, Dion explained, making it difficult to walk sometimes and, saddest of all, it was going to be impossible for her to go back on tour as she'd been planning."I'm working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again," Dion said. "But I have to admit, it's been a struggle."According to theNational Institutes of Health, symptoms include stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs, and greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, all of which can trigger muscle spasms.April 13, 2023

Who says you can't have some new Céline Dion music when you least expect it?She had previously recorded five songs for the rom-comLoveAgain, and the title track dropped ahead of the film's May 5 release."I think it's a wonderful feel-good story, and I hope that people will like it, and like the new songs too," stated Dion, who also appeared as herself in the movie starringPriyanka Chopra JonasandSam Heughan.Dion already had several signature movie tracks to her name—"Beauty and the Beast," "Because You Loved Me" and the Oscar-winningTitanicanthem "My Heart Will Go On"—but somehow she had never beenina movie before. (You can check out her debut in this one on Netflix.)May 2023

After a three-month delay, Dion canceled her Courage World Tour entirely through April 2024."I'm so sorry to disappoint all of you once again," she wrote on Instagram. "I'm working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you're 100 percent. It's not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it's best that we cancel everything now until I'm really ready to be back on stage again."Oct. 30, 2023

Dion wasseen out in a very public placefor the first time since she shared her diagnosis when she caught a Las Vegas Knights hockey game at T-Mobile Arena with her and late husbandRené Angélil's three sons,René-Charles, 23, and twinsEddyandNelson, 13.The Montreal Canadiens shared footage of the family's meet-and-greet in the visiting team's locker room, Dion telling coachMartin St. Louis(per an English translation) that it had been "an incredible night." She even gave the players a pep talk, advising, "Just stay healthy, strong...do what you do best."But better yet, according to Canadiens executiveChantal Machabée, their VIP guest sang "a few notes" for them and it was "an incredible moment.""She's been through a lot, and to see her like this and smiling and being so happy...it's amazing," the team's VP of hockey communicationstoldPeople."I know she has good days and not so good days, but this was a very good day, and it was reassuring."December 2023

Claudette Diongave a rather dire-sounding update on her sister's health battle, telling7 Jours(translated from the original French) that the singer—who's the youngest of 14 siblings—didn't have control over her muscles."What breaks my heart is that she's always been disciplined," Dion's big sister said. "She's always worked hard. Our mother always told her, 'You're going to do it well, you're going to do it properly.'"The former judge on Quebec'sL'Étoile des aînés(a competition for singers 65 and older)said it was her and Dion's dream that the singer would be able to return to the stage. "In what capacity?" she added. "I don't know."Jan. 30, 2024

The most promising sign yet that a new day had begun: Dion, who had understandably chosen to take a step back from public life while she battled her condition, was getting ready to give a raw look at what she was going through.Amazon announced theupcoming documentaryI Am: Céline Dion, directed byIrene Taylor, would reveal the lengths Dion had been going to in hopes she could go back to doing what she loved."As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realized how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans," Dion said in a statement, explaining why once more she was opening the door. "During this absence, I decided I wanted to document this part of my life, to try to raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis."Feb. 4, 2024

The2024 Grammysmay have ended with a few more people believing in the power of love.As soon asDion was announced as the night's final presenter(after social media got wind of her presence elsewhere in the building, but still), the audience was on its feet.The five-time Grammy winner may not have been ready for a spotlight performance on music's biggest night just yet, but shedidsing a few bars withSonyaé Elisebackstage, the "Collide" artist sharing the moment on Instagram afterward amid other highlights from her "ICONIC night."Dion andTaylor Swiftalso shared an off-stage hug, silencing the immediate uproar over Swift seemingly not paying proper homage to the elder legend onstage when Dion presented her with Album of the Year forMidnights. Not wanting to be an anti-hero on her history-making night,Swift posed for pics with Dion and René-Charles, who had sweetlyescorted his mom to the microphone.

Dion alsoshared some highlightsfrom the icons-only portion of the evening, including photos withStevie WonderandOprah Winfrey.Celebrating the momentous night with Dion was her longtime stylistLaw Roach, who dressed the star in a flowy Valentino dress and striking overcoat, with Tiffany & Co. diamonds upping the sparkle factor."This makes me so much Joy!" hecaptioned a next-day Instagram snap with Dion. "Not just to dress my Queen again but the fact that she's HEALTHY AND HAPPY! The UNIVERSE always PROTECTS and PROVIDES."April 2024

After a March trip to Boston, where she watched the Bruins take on the New York Rangers at TD Garden,Dion gave an update on her healthtoVogue France.She was still learning to live with stiff-person syndrom, she shared in the article published April 22, but was working her butt off with athletic, physical and vocal therapy five days a week to not let it defeat her."The way I see it, I have two choices," Dion said. "Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it's over, I stay at home, listen to my songs, stand in front of my mirror and sing to myself."July 26, 2024

With the Eiffel Tower providing the appropriately romantic background, Dion sangEdith Piaf's' "Hymne A L'Amour" at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony,her first performance in four years.Dion wrote on Instagram afterward that she was "so full of joy to be back in one of my very favorite cities!"Oct. 22, 2024

Dion made asurprise appearancein Los Angeles atCity of Hope's Spirit of Life Gala to present chairman and CEO of AEG PresentsJayMarcianowith the Spirit of Life Award.March 4, 2025

Dion's twin sonsNelsonandEddyhung out with their mom—and league co-creatorTiger Woods, NBD—at a TGL event in Florida.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”