Celine Dion is set to sensationally perform at the Paris Olympics and she will sing in French to honor the City of Lights in her first show since being diagnosed with incurable stiff-person syndrome over two years ago.
The Canadian singer, 56, sent fans into a frenzy this week when she showed up in the French capital, as she was seen being mobbed by fans amid rumors she would ring in the opening ceremony.
Those rumors were confirmed as TMZ reported that Dion cut a blockbuster deal with the Olympics – which will see her paid a staggering $2 million for one show.
Dion’s total bill is reported to be in excess of $4 million, as the Olympics is also said to be footing the bill for private jets, hotel suites, security, and healthcare professionals to help deal with her ailing health.
A source told DailyMail.com that not only will the icon return to the stage, but she will also perform in French to honor the Olympic hosts and her own French-Canadian roots.
Celine Dion, 56, beamed on Tuesday as she was mobbed by fans in Paris when rumors first swirled that she will perform at the 2024 Olympic Games
The Canadian icon’s performance at the Olympics will be her first since she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022, seen during an episode that was filmed for an upcoming Amazon show about her diagnosis
The singer was greeted by a rapturous welcome in Paris when she arrived earlier this week, beaming as she posed for selfies with fans outside her hotel.
Celine looked beautiful in a baggy black suit, which she paired with an open white shirt as she waved at fans, and was seen cuddling close to one lucky supporter and posed for a selfie with him.
In 2022, Celine disclosed that she had been diagnosed with the neurological disorder stiff-person syndrome which causes muscles to stiffen and spasm.
According to reports on her Olympics performance deal, Dion will bring a team of healthcare professionals with her to help handle her comeback.
While she will rake in $2 million for her show, Celine’s bill is set to be double that as the Olympics will pay for a number of luxury add-ons – including $500,000 for a private jet round-trip from Las Vegas to Paris.
The Canadian singer who is battling the incurable stiff-person syndrome , happily posed for photos with fans outside her exclusive hotel
Celine looked beautiful in a baggy black suit which she wore with an open white shirt and she waved at fans
Celine’s comeback will see a return to her high-octane Las Vegas shows that made her an icon of Sin City
Putting the singer up in a lavish hotel for the week will reportedly run at over $25,000-per-night, costing upwards of $175,000 just in hotel fees.
For her entourage, including Celine’s three children and her aides, the hotels are set to cost a further $500,000.
And with the 56-year-old’s comeback sure to embody her famously high-octane Las Vegas shows, her expenses will also include hair and makeup, choreographers, security, and costuming.
Earlier on Tuesday, Celine had looked in great spirits as she was seen arriving at the hotel.
Looking as chic as ever, she paired her oversized black blazer with a pair of stylish flared trousers.
Céline added some loafers, topping her looked off with a pair of sunglasses and a huge designer handbag.
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Céline Dion set to make comeback performance at 2024 Paris Olympic Games
After her recent promise to return to performing, there has been rumours circulating online that she could sing at the opening ceremony. Céline has not commented.
Céline’s heartbreaking documentary, I Am: Céline Dion has been lauded by critics after it was released last month.
The harrowing film – captured over more than a year of filming – follows the star as she battles to continue her normal life and career amid her diagnosis – and has landed a perfect 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Céline announced in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with the syndrome – an extremely rare disorder that makes the muscles in the torso and limbs alternate between spasming and being rigid.
Time critic Rich Juzwiak said the film is the ‘opposite of a vanity project’ and praised Dion for her openness – including recording a difficult moment where she struggles to sing Foreigner’s I Want To Know What Love Is due to the condition causing rigidness in the chest.
She cuddled close to one lucky supporter and posed for a selfie with him as his peers strained to get a better look
Earlier on Tuesday, Celine had looked in great spirits as she was seen arriving at the hotel
Looking as chic as ever, she paired her oversized black blazer with a pair of stylish flared trousers
The review reads: ‘In a way, I Am: Celine Dion is a meditation on aging and what happens to stars whose abilities diminish with time, rare diagnosis or not. As tragic and debilitating as it is, Dion’s condition gives her a reason to externalize a lot of feelings that many stars never want to acknowledge.
‘Nobody wants to talk about what it means to be past their prime, but SPS has forced Dion to contemplate just that.’
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Celine Dion is in great spirits as she arrives in Paris ahead of the Olympic Games
New York Times’ Chris Azzopardi praised Dion for allowing ‘raw footage’ to make it into the film, as well as handling her condition with humor.
One such scene sees Dion suffering a 10-minute spasm as she wails in distress and is administered pain medication.
‘Dion’s spontaneously expressive personality already shines through her pain in raw footage that feels more connected to her healing journey, like when her physical therapist nags her about a cream she hasn’t been applying to her feet. “Give me a break,” she says with playful exasperation.
‘These awkward segments weaken the powerful emotional atmosphere of witnessing Dion transcend her circumstances. Especially when she lets the cameras stick around, showing some of the most grim health-related scenes I have ever seen of a superstar onscreen.’
A synopsis for the film reads: ‘From visiting her couture touring wardrobe and personal effects to spending time in the recording studio, the documentary captures a global megastar’s never-before-seen private life.
Céline added some loafers, topping her looked off with a pair of sunglasses and a huge designer handbag
After her recent promise to return to performing, there has been rumours circulating online that she could sing at the opening ceremony. Céline has not commented
Celine jokingly held up a warning finger to fans who got too close to the star
‘An emotional, energetic, and poetic love letter to music, I Am: Celine Dion captures more than a year of filming as the legendary singer navigates her journey toward living an open and authentic life amidst illness.’
Amazon MGM landed the worldwide rights to the documentary with the film streaming on Prime Video.
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FIRST LOOK! Celine Dion shares a raw behind-the-scenes snap from her emotional new documentary – amid battle with incurable stiff-person syndrome
Irene Taylor directed the documentary made by Sony Music Vision, Sony Music Entertainment Canada and Vermilion Films.
‘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,’ she said in an emotional video first announcing her condition.
Although she initially postponed her Courage World Tour until the spring of 2024, the Golden Globe winner decided to cancel it in May.
‘Even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again,’ she told her loyal fans.
The determined artist appears to have kept her promise she made to keep working on her health. ‘I want you all to know, I’m not giving up … and I can’t wait to see you again!’ she said at the time.
Celine’s sister recently revealed the singer had lost control of her muscles due to her condition.
‘Celine is a fighter,’ an insider told US Weekly. ‘She doesn’t have as much control over her muscles as she did before, but she’s working with doctors and physical therapists to get better.’
She revealed her diagnosis in 2022 and has previously said it that can cause spasms so strong that can break ribs and feel like strangulation of the throat (pictured 2019)
The source claimed, ‘Celine has been taking time to focus on her health but plans to take the stage again once she is given the go-ahead by her medical team.’
A second person in the know backed up the comments.
‘She’s staying positive and upbeat and doing her physical therapy every day,’ the insider said.
‘Getting back on stage in some form is her constant dream, even if she can no longer sing; she just wants to see those shining faces.’
Stiff-person syndrome is a ‘rare autoimmune neurological disorder that most commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that come and go and can worsen over time,’ according to John Hopkins Medicine.