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Celine Dion has announced her return to live performance, more than five years after her last concert and nearly three years after disclosing a diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, an incurable neurological condition that had left her struggling to walk and sing.
The 58-year-old singer will headline a 10-night show at La Defense Arena in Paris, a 40,000-capacity venue, across September and October. All dates are spaced several days apart, a schedule widely interpreted as a precaution to protect her health.
The announcement came on her birthday, March 30. In a video message posted to her Instagram account, Dion described the comeback as "the best gift of my life."
"I'm so ready to do this," she told fans. "I'm feeling good, I'm strong, I'm feeling excited, obviously, and of course, a little nervous."
On her health, she added: "I'm doing great, managing my health, feeling good. I'm singing again, even doing a little bit of dancing."
Dion disclosed her diagnosis in December 2022 in an emotional video, telling fans the condition had affected "every aspect of my daily life."
Stiff Person Syndrome, or SPS, is a neurological disease caused by disrupted nerve-to-muscle signaling. It produces severe muscle spasms and can severely restrict mobility. An estimated 8,000 people worldwide are affected, and there is no known cure.
Dion told the BBC in 2024 that she first noticed symptoms on tour, when her voice began behaving in an unusual way. "It was just feeling a little strange, like a little spasm," she said. "My voice was struggling, I was starting to push a little bit."
As the condition worsened, she described the sensation to NBC News as deeply distressing. "It's like somebody is strangling you. It's like somebody is pushing your larynx or pharynx."
Her Courage World Tour, already disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, was ultimately canceled. Her last performance before the comeback was in Newark, New Jersey, on March 8, 2020.
Rather than stepping back, Dion pursued an intensive recovery regimen. In a 2024 interview with French Vogue, she described the approach with characteristic directness.
"The way I see it, I have two choices. Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off, and it's over," she said. "Five days a week, I undergo athletic, physical, and vocal therapy. I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice."
The effort produced a moment that resonated worldwide. At the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, Dion performed Edith Piaf's "Hymne a l'Amour" from the Eiffel Tower — her first public performance since falling ill.
That same landmark served as the backdrop for her comeback announcement Monday night. Shortly after 8 p.m. GMT, the Eiffel Tower lit up with the message "Paris, je suis prete" (Paris, I am ready) as a playlist of her songs played for crowds gathered below.
Tickets go on sale April 7. Fans can register interest on Dion's official website beginning Tuesday, March 31. Demand is expected to be high.
Concert dates run Sept. 12 through Oct. 14, with performances on alternating Wednesdays and Saturdays at La Defense Arena.
Celine Dion ended her message to fans with a note of gratitude. "Over these last few years, every day that's gone by, I felt your prayers and support, your kindness and love," she said. "I can't wait to see you again."
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