Celine Dion has revealed she was suffering symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome for nearly two decades before receiving an official diagnosis. The 58-year-old singer, who stepped back from the spotlight after announcing her condition, often told fans she was cancelling shows due to a cold or sinus issues, but she was actually dealing with more debilitating symptoms.
Struggles with the Condition
Stiff Person Syndrome, which affects just one to two people per million, is a progressive autoimmune neurological disorder causing severe pain, muscle stiffness, and spasms. In her documentary, Dion detailed how the condition strained her voice, left her terrified and paralysed during one particularly bad episode, and led her to take painkillers and antidepressants to manage symptoms.
Speaking to Harper's Bazaar ahead of her five-week Paris residency, Dion said: "It is a progressive condition. I don’t like to say ‘disease.’ Disease makes you go like this," before making a face. To prepare for the residency, she has been doing 90-minute Pilates sessions three times a week, alongside using weights, a treadmill, and a reformer machine.
Preparing for Paris Residency
Dion expressed her gratitude to fans, saying: "They paid for tickets. They bought my records. They gave me that luxury. So the least I can do is tell them that I’m alive." She added: "It’s been so long, I would like to offer them something to show how I’ve missed them." Following her diagnosis, she turned to intense rehab, including new medicines and physical and vocal therapy.
With no FDA-approved treatments for her condition, her foundation donated $2 million for research into autoimmune neurological disorders. Dion believes she connects with fans because she is "an open book," adding: "I’m honest, and it’s not always pretty. Sometimes it’s happy things, sometimes it’s sad, but it’s called life."
Diagnosis and Public Appearances
Announcing her diagnosis in 2022, Dion said: "I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time and it’s been really difficult for me to face my challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through." She continued: "Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the Stiff Person Syndrome which affects one in a million people. While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all the spasms I’ve been having. I miss you so much. I always give 100 percent when I do my shows but my condition is not allowing me to give that to you right now."
Since her diagnosis, Dion has barely performed live, making a rare appearance at the Paris Olympics' opening ceremony, where she sang "Hymne A L'Amour" from the Eiffel Tower.
