Celine Dion was overcome with emotion as she made her stage comeback in Paris on Saturday night for the beginning of her five-week residency.
The singer, 58, who looked incredible in a strapless ruffled black dress, wiped away tears as she made her entrance to an estimated 30,000 fans at the La Plenitude Arena.
It marks her first run of concerts since she was forced to cancel the remainder of her Courage world tour in 2023 due to a debilitating battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder causing severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms.
The rare neurological disorder causes severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms and can also result in an unsteady gait, double vision or slurred speech. There is no cure for SPS but treatment can help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the condition.
Celine has performed just two brief times since announcing her SPS diagnosis.
But on Saturday, the singer fulfilled her dream as she sang once again in front of her fans, in what is a remarkable feat after months of a gruelling training regime.
Before the show, Celine was greeted by fans as she left her hotel.
Celine Dion was overcome with emotion as she made her stage comeback in Paris on Saturday night for the beginning of her five-week residency
On Saturday, the singer fulfilled her dream as she sang once again in front of her fans, in what is a remarkable feat after months of gruelling training regime
In homage to the star, fans, known as ‘the red heads’, set up a special candy apple stand in reference to an apple tree statement they made when she revealed her health battle.
Fans said at the time: ‘We’re not here for the apple, we’re here for the tree,’ meaning they care more about her health and wellbeing than her performing and producing hits.
The songstress appeared touched by the thoughtful gesture and took the time out to talk to them.
Celine’s intense rehabilitation plan has seen her try out new medication, physical therapy, vocal therapy and immunotherapy.
In order to ensure she’s physically able to perform, Celine has been working on her strength with 90-minute Pilates sessions three times a week as well as twice-weekly ballet and barre classes.
Her home gym is also decked out with weights, a treadmill and a reformer machine, with Celine revealing her flexibility has increased since she started her new exercise regime.
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar about her new regime, she described it as falling and getting back up repeatedly, adding that she was proud of herself for achieving something that her body wasn’t ‘born to do’.
‘It is a progressive condition,’ she noted. ‘I don’t like to say “disease.” Disease makes you go like this,’ she said, scrunching her nose and saying, ‘”Kevin, you’re such a disease”.’
Celine’s intense rehabilitation plan has seen her try out new medication, physical therapy, vocal therapy and immunotherapy
It marks her first run of concerts since she was forced to cancel the remainder of her Courage world tour in 2023 due to a debilitating battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS)
The singer looked incredible in a strapless ruffled black dress as she took to the stage at the La Plenitude Arena
Celine sang her heart out to thousands of fans
Fans had their cameras out as they captured the moment Celine took to the stage once again
An emotional Celine Dion greeted fans as she left her hotel in Paris on Saturday night ahead of her big comeback gig
In homage to Celine, fans, known as ‘the red heads’, set up a special candy apple stand in reference to an apple tree statement they made when she revealed her health battle
Celine laid bare the brutality of the condition in her 2024 documentary, I Am: Celine Dion.
Yet in recent days she has looked in high spirits while out greeting fans in Paris ahead of her shows.
The residency will see her take to the stage for 16 shows in Autumn 2026 and 10 additional dates in May 2027.
She announced her comeback in March, with tickets instantly selling out.
Celine was diagnosed with SPS in 2022 after she faced a flare-up in 2020, at the same time as the start of the pandemic.
For three years she isolated from fans, partly motivated by fears her fans would presume she was living a happy, full life yet still cancelling shows. She also developed an appreciation for nature during this time.
‘I love trees so much, and I had this vision of myself trying to disappear through the leaves,’ she said.
The trees were barren as it was autumn, a visual Celine saw as a metaphor for her own struggles.
‘I was trying to tell them, I’m sorry, I don’t have any apples to give you anymore,’ she said, until a voice told her: ‘But we did not come for the apples; we came for the tree.’
The last time Celine performed on stage was in Riyadh. Earlier in the same year she sang at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
She is now ready to get back to work, even the more annoying bits of being a pop star.
‘Well, girl,’ Celine said, addressing herself but speaking to the reporter, ‘if you don’t want to sign autographs and you don’t want to get yourself pretty and you don’t want to be disturbed because your pasta is going to get cold, you can always stay home. But look at what you have.’
