Canadian music icon Celine Dion has made a major return to live music, performing her first full concert in more than six years following her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome.
Dion took to the stage on Saturday, September 12, at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, near Paris, where she kicked off her highly anticipated Paris residency.
The sold-out concert lasted approximately two hours and 15 minutes, with Dion performing 25 songs from her extensive catalogue in front of an audience of about 30,000 fans.
The performance marked a significant milestone for the singer, who has faced serious health challenges in recent years that forced her to step away from touring and live performances.
Dion's battle with stiff-person syndrome
Dion revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause severe muscle stiffness, spasms and other symptoms that affect movement.
The condition significantly affected her ability to sing and perform, eventually leading her to cancel the remaining dates of her world tour.
Before her latest performance in Paris, Dion's last full concert took place on March 8, 2020. Her touring plans were subsequently disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and later by the effects of her illness.
Although she remained largely away from the concert stage, Dion made a highly publicised return to performing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she delivered a brief singing performance during the opening ceremony.
Her appearance at the Plenitude Arena, however, represented a much bigger comeback, as she completed an entire concert for the first time in years.
The Paris residency is expected to give fans an opportunity to see Dion perform live again as she continues her return to the stage following her health struggles.
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