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Céline Dion is preparing to return to the stage as she continues managing stiff-person syndrome, four years after being diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder.
The 58-year-old singer is scheduled to perform a series of shows in Paris beginning in September, followed by a Las Vegas residency next year. For Dion, the performances represent more than a return to live music. They are an opportunity to reconnect with fans who supported her throughout her health struggles.
"It's been so long, I would like to offer them something to show how I've missed them," Dion told Harper's Bazaar.
Dion was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022. The rare autoimmune and neurological condition can cause muscle stiffness, painful spasms and difficulties with movement. Her symptoms had affected her for years before doctors confirmed the diagnosis, eventually forcing her to cancel performances and suspend her tour.
The singer has been open about the emotional impact of having to step away from performing. She previously said that keeping her health struggles private could have left her feeling trapped.
"If I would have just stayed secretly behind, my home would have become a prison, and I would have become a prisoner of my own life," she said.
Dion has also credited her fans with helping her through the difficult period. She said their continued support was one reason she chose to speak publicly about her condition.
"They paid for tickets. They bought my records. They gave me that luxury," she told Harper's Bazaar. "So the least I can do is tell them that I'm alive."
The singer made her first major performance since her diagnosis at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, followed by an appearance at a fashion event in Saudi Arabia later that year. She has otherwise largely remained away from live performances while concentrating on her recovery.
Now, Dion says she is choosing to focus on living rather than constantly questioning what lies ahead.
"I'm honest, and it's not always pretty," she said. "Sometimes it's happy things, sometimes it's sad, but it's called life."
"Instead of questioning life, can you live life?" she added. "So I'm living my life, girl. I'm living the life."
