Global music icon Celine Dion has delighted fans with a festive and humorous social media post, showcasing her resilient spirit as she continues to manage a rare neurological condition. The 57-year-old singer took to Instagram on Christmas Eve to share a brilliantly funny video of herself dressed as The Grinch.
A Festive Display of Humour
In the short clip, shared with her 9.4 million followers, Dion sat alone by a fire pit, fully committed to the character. She wore a complete Grinch costume, complete with green fur and a Santa outfit on top, and even applied green makeup, including the character's distinctive nose. Mimicking the voice and inflection made famous by Jim Carrey in the 2000 film How The Grinch Stole Christmas, she delivered a monologue about her busy schedule.
"The nerve of those Whos. Inviting me on such short notice," she joked in character. "Even if I wanted to go, my schedule wouldn't allow it." She then listed a parody of her daily commitments, which included exercising her voice, solving world hunger, and having dinner with herself. The video reached a peak of hilarity when she seamlessly sang a line from her 1996 hit cover, All By Myself, concluding with the lyric: "When I was young, I never needed anyone."
Living with Stiff Person Syndrome
The lighthearted post comes as Dion continues her public battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms. She first revealed her diagnosis in December 2022, cancelling her remaining tour dates. At the time, she emotionally explained that the spasms affect every aspect of her daily life, sometimes making it difficult to walk and use her vocal cords to sing in her usual way.
However, recent months have shown a positive trajectory. In a May 2024 interview with Vogue, the singer expressed that her "happiness has come back" and that a great burden had lifted from her shoulders. She stated on NBC's Today show, "I believe in myself, in my bravery," adding defiantly that she would not let the disorder control her life.
Return to the Spotlight
Dion's triumphant spirit has been increasingly visible. In October, she made a rare public appearance with her three sons—René-Charles, 23, and 14-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy—at a Paul McCartney concert in Las Vegas. She gave a moving performance of L'Hymne à L'Amour at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and her journey was documented in the Amazon film, I Am: Celine Dion.
Most recently, she was announced as the new face of Charlotte Tilbury makeup, starring in their Christmas campaign. For the advert, she performed her song I'm Alive, stating, "I hope this campaign reminds everyone that confidence is the greatest gift you can give yourself."
The singer, who lost her husband and manager, René Angélil, to throat cancer in 2016, captioned her Grinch Instagram post: "Silent night? Not on my watch..."—a fitting testament to her enduring energy and humour in the face of adversity.
