Celine Dion leaves fans teary-eyed with comeback at Olympic opening ceremony

Back in 2022, the 56-year-old shared her heartbreaking health diagnosis, telling fans: “I wasn’t ready to say anything before but I’m ready.

“Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff-person syndrome which affects one in a million people.”

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, stiff person syndrome is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that most commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that come and go and can worsen over time. Other symptoms can also include slurred speech and double vision.

Dion was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022. Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty

While she remained primarily out of the spotlight after her diagnosis, earlier this year the Canadian singer took part in a Prime Video documentary titled I Am: Celine Dion to give fans a better insight into how she was managing living with the illness.

She described it as “hard” as she was forced to cancel her Courage World Tour.

“I’m working hard every day. But I have to admit, it’s been a struggle,” she added. “I miss it so much – the people, I miss them. If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. I won’t stop,” she said in a personal message to her followers.

And that’s exactly what she did.

Just months later, the star returned to one of the biggest stages in the world, giving her first major performance during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

The prestigious event, which took place along the Seine River on July 26, saw Dion with a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf’s ‘L’Hymne à l’amour’ from the first stage on the Eiffel Tower.

Dion delivered a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à l’amour.” Credit: Screengrab by IOC/Getty

Fans couldn’t help but shed a tear at the comeback, especially after she previously got candid about not being able to hit high notes like she used to.

“Okay. This really is the comeback of the century. I cannot explain the shivers that ran up my spine while hearing Celine sing. I’m in tears,” one person tweeted.

“Does anyone want to cry seeing CELINE DION so we’ll and standing there singing at #Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony #Olympic2024. Still remember her singing Power of the Dream as a kid at the 1996 Atlanta Games. May good health be with her,” wrote one user.

Another added: “The look on Celine Dion’s face here says it all. There’s little way to describe the grief and fear she must have battled these past years – but you see it. Right here. What a moment. #Olympics #CelineDion.”

A third also commented: “Céline Dion opening the Olympics by singing under the Eiffel Tower, life is complete.”

And this user also commended the iconic performance, writing: “There will NEVER be anyone like her again in our lifetimes. Celine Dion delivers her incredible comeback performance live at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, on the world’s stage.”

After her performance, Dion took to X to mark the momentous occasion.

“I’m honored to have performed tonight, for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, and so full of joy to be back in one of my very favorite cities!” she wrote alongside a montage of photos from the event.

“Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance.”

“All of you have been so focused on your dream, and whether or not you take home a medal,” she continued. “I hope that being here means that it has come true for you! You should all be so proud, we know how hard you have worked to be the best of the best.

“Stay focused, keep going, my heart is with you! – Celine xx.”

We’ll be watching the performance on repeat for the foreseeable future.