CELEBRITY
Celine Dion fans left IN TEARS as star closes Olympics Opening Ceremony in front of Eiffel Tower and she is hailed as the ‘greatest singer of all time’ amid her tragic battle with Stiff Person Syndrome.
Celine Dion fans were left in tears as they watched her close the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris on Friday evening.
The Canadian singer, 56, who is battling the incurable stiff-person syndrome, looked incredible in a shimmering silver gown as she performed in front of the Eiffel Tower.
She gave a rendition of Hymne à L’amour, which was originally sung by French music icon Edith Piaf.
The song was originally released in 1950 and its title translates into English as ‘Hymn to Love.’
The My Heart Will Go On songstress looked to be on the verge of tears as she finished the performance to cheers from the crowd, whilst viewers at home were also left emotional.
One wrote on X: ‘ celine got my a** crying #OpeningCeremony
A second declared: ‘Wow Celine Dion! If you’ve seen her documentary, you’ll know… #OpeningCeremony.’
And a third said: ‘AT LAST! Queen Celine Dion is back and she sounds fantastic! #Olympics #Opening Ceremony.’
Even more fans took to social media to praise the I’m Alive hitmaker for her triumph, and one even called her the ‘greatest singer of all time’.
One said: ‘Ok I’m proper emotional at Celine’s performance, just wow! #OpeningCeremony’
Another penned: ‘Ok, this bit with the hot air balloon and Celine Dion is divine. #OpeningCeremony.’
And a sixth person noted Celine’s emotional ending as they said: ‘The most fabulous ending … #OpeningCeremony.’
Celine Dion makes emotional return as she performs during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Dion, one of the best selling artists of all time, was moved to tears after returning to the spotlight following her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome. pic.twitter.com/NwVZfmjEm8
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) July 26, 2024
In 2022, Celine disclosed that she had been diagnosed with the neurological disorder stiff-person syndrome which causes muscles to stiffen and spasm.
Céline previously made a vow that she will return to the stage amid her suffering ‘even if she has to crawl’.
And sticking to her guns, Céline is gearing up to make her comeback performance in the French city.
Céline last performed live during her Courage world tour in Newark, New Jersey on March 8 2020. She then canceled her tour amid the Covid pandemic.
Variety reports that the singer is rumoured to be opening the ceremony on Friday, which will mark her first performance since stepping away from the spotlight.
She previously teased her anticipated comeback would be in Paris, in a recent interview with Vogue France.
She said: ‘I’ve chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!
‘For four years I’ve been saying to myself that I’m not going back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready… As things stand, I can’t stand here and say to you: ‘Yes, in four months.
‘I don’t know… My body will tell me.’ Céline’s heartbreaking documentary, I Am: Céline Dion has been lauded by critics after it was released last month.
The harrowing film captured over more than a year of filming – follows the star as she battles to continue her normal life and career amid her diagnosis – and has landed a perfect 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Céline announced in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with the syndrome – an extremely rare disorder that makes the muscles in the torso and limbs alternate between spasming and being rigid.
An emotional, energetic, and poetic love letter to music, I Am: Celine Dion captures more than a year of filming as the legendary singer navigates her journey toward living an open and authentic life amidst illness.’