Céline Dion Celebrates 55
- Super star Celine Dion turned 55, successfully pulling at peoples’ heartstrings for decades now. Soon, fans will get to hear new music from her as a part of an upcoming rom-com soundtrack.
- Mere months ago, Dion shared that she was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS) a rare, progressive neurological disorder.
- The disorder has led to spasms that have sometimes caused her difficulties walking and prevented Dion from using her vocal chords “the way [she’s] used to.”
- But Dion has assured fans she’s taking the time to treat her disorder so she can get back to doing what she does best singing.
- Dion also has been on a journey of grief since losing her husband to throat cancer on January 14, 2016. She’s previously talked about how he’s a part of her life every day.
Dion is a powerhouse vocalist who’s been lending her voice to stage performances, album releases and movie soundtracks for decades.
Read MoreMore recently, we’ve seen Dion release an “upgraded and reimagined” music video of “My Heart Will Go On” for her die-hard fans and even jump on a new soundtrack for the upcoming rom-com “Love Again”. The movie, set to be released on May 12, 2023, promises to have new music from Dion and even includes her on screen.View this post on Instagram
Celine Dion Faces a Rare Diagnosis
Though her continued success is more than applaudable regardless of circumstance, it’s even more impressive given everything Céline Dion has gone through very recently as well as in the more distant past.
In December 2022, Dion announced that she was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS) a rare, progressive neurological disorder. The disorder has led to spasms that have sometimes caused her difficulties walking and prevented Dion from using her vocal chords “the way [she’s] used to.”
View this post on Instagram
"Hello, everyone. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reach out to you. I miss you all so much and I can't wait to be on stage talking to you in person," Dion said in an Instagram video. "As you know, I've always been an open book and I wasn't ready to say anything before, but I'm ready now.
“I've been dealing with problems with my health for a long time and it's been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I've been going through."
The announcement also served as a way to tell fans that Dion was rescheduling Spring 2023 shows to 2024 and canceling eight of her summer 2023 shows.
SurvivorNetTV Presents: Resilient Learning to Overcome
"It hurts me to tell you today that this means I won't be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February. I have a great team of doctors working alongside me to help me get better and my precious children, who are supporting me and giving me hope," she continued. "I always give 100% when I do my show but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now.
“For me to reach you again I have no choice but to concentrate on my health at this moment. And I have hope that I'm on the road to recovery. This is my focus and I'm doing everything I can to recuperate."
It’s unclear exactly how her recovery is going, but treatment for SPS can help keep symptoms under control. Symptoms of the disease can include stiff muscles in the trunk (torso), arms and legs as well as a greater sensitivity to noise, touch and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
A Continued Journey of Grief
On top of her rare diagnosis, Celine Dion has also continuously been dealing with the loss of her husband and former manager, René Angelil, to throat cancer on Jan. 14, 2016.
View this post on Instagram
Angelil was first diagnosed with his disease in 1998 but went into remission for some time. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, again, after doctors found a lump on his neck in 2014. For treatment, he had surgery, but he died two years later at the age of 73.
"I would be lying if I said I'm fine," she wrote under a photo of Angelil on Jan. 14, 2022. "I think of you at least a hundred times, cause in the echo of my voice I hear your words just like you're there… I miss you Céline xx."
The Toughest Conversations: Losing a Spouse to Cancer
Dion and Angelil were married for more than two decades before his passing, and the couple had three children together René-Charles Angelil , 22, and 12-year-old twins Eddy Angelil and Nelson Angelil. In a previous interview with TODAY, Dion opened up about feeling Angelil’s presence in her daily life.
"Losing my husband, for my kids to lose their father, it was quite something," Dion told Today. "I feel like René has given me so much through the years and still today I see my kids I look at them and… We still live with him. He's part of our lives every day."
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
