Céline Dion, the legendary Canadian singer, has canceled some of her European tour dates owing to a new diagnosis of the stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological illness.
Dion stated that her severe illness prevents her from “singing the way I’m used to” in two videos released on her social media sites (in English and French) on Thursday.
Stiff-person syndrome, increasing muscle rigidity, and spasm disease all contribute to this. According to The Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation, people with the condition may be unable to care for themselves, disabled, or bedridden.
Dion claims that her muscle spasms “impact every aspect of my everyday living.”
She continued, sobbing as she said that her illness made it difficult for her to walk and prevented her from using her voice as she was used to.
“It’s been incredibly difficult for me to face these obstacles and talk about everything that has happened to me,” she continued. “I’ve had health problems for quite some time.”
Dion expressed her disappointment at being unable to begin the European leg of her tour in February due to her diagnosis. Her 2023 tour has been pushed back to the following year. Eight of Dion’s scheduled concerts were canceled between May 31 and July 17, 2023.
The My Heart Will Go On singer told fans that she, her family, and her physicians are doing everything possible to improve her situation.
The five-time Grammy winner declared her desire to perform once more.
“I can only sing,” she continued. “I’ve done that my whole life. And it’s what I’m most passionate about.”
Québec Premier François Legault expressed sympathy for Dion’s sickness on Thursday morning. Legault told reporters on his way to the National Assembly’s question period that he hopes Dion “gets well as quickly as possible.”
A children’s choir played My Heart Will Go On in Toronto’s Queen’s Park as part of their homage to Dion.
Dion stated that she works with a sports medicine therapist regularly to increase her strength and performance.
“I miss you so much. I miss seeing everyone,” Dion told her admirers. “Normally, I offer everything I have when I perform, but my health prevents me from doing so for you right now.”
Dion’s globe tour was canceled earlier this year due to “severe and ongoing muscle spasms.”
Dion’s website includes information about her current tour and any scheduled reschedules.
According to the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, fewer than 5,000 cases of stiff-person syndrome have been documented in the United States. Although symptoms can emerge at any point in a patient’s life, they are most typically observed throughout adulthood.
