Celine Dion wept tears of joy on Saturday as she fulfilled her dream of returning to the stage after years battling a rare neurological disorder, with a sold-out concert in Paris. The 58-year-old French Canadian singer appeared visibly moved as she opened her first full concert in six years with her 1990s French-language ballad “On ne change pas” (“One Doesn’t Change”), singing to a crowd of 30,000 enthralled fans. These are, of course, tears of joy. I’m so delighted to see you, Dion said, blowing kisses to the audience at the packed Plenitude Arena on the western edge of Paris. Her return to the stage underscored a remarkable comeback after stiff-person syndrome, an incurable condition that causes stiffness and cramps, forced her to cancel shows and cast years of uncertainty over whether she would ever perform again. The path was rockier than expected, she said, speaking in French and English. But I held on to a faint ray of light in the distance, deep in the mountains. Tonight, I want to sing for you, sing for myself, sing for life, she added. The largely female crowd sported sequined dresses and tops, glittered cheeks and T-shirts emblazoned with the star’s image or nods to her biggest hits. French daily Le Parisien reported that former first lady Michelle Obama was discreetly attending the opening performance. Just hours before, the legendary singer greeted admirers outside her luxury hotel near the Arc de Triomphe. Paris spared no effort in welcoming Dion, drawing thousands of fans from across the world, including some who flew in from as far away as Tahiti. For days, the city played host to costume contests, giant karaoke parties, and tribute cruises on the Seine. Dion kicks off her 26-date run with 16 sold-out shows in September and October, before returning for another 10 in May. Over her four-decade career, Dion has sold around 260 million albums in English and French. She revealed in late 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, an incurable autoimmune condition that causes severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms. Dion has returned to the stage after years of intense physical training like an athlete, incorporating ballet, Pilates, and voice therapy into her daily routine.
Source: cbsnews.com
