The “All By Myself” singer had a long return journey to the stage after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome.

Watch Celine Dion’s first performance of ‘My Heart Will Go On’ in 6 years

The “All By Myself” singer had a long return journey to the stage after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome.

By Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino is a writer at *. *She has written for * *since 2025. Her work has appeared in NBC News, Vulture, GQ, and InStyle.

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on September 13, 2026 4:40 p.m. ET

Celine Dion performing at Plenitude Arena in Paris on Sept. 12. Credit:

Thomas SAMSON / AFP via Getty

- Celine Dion performed her first concert in six years on Saturday as part of her 16-night Paris residency at the Plenitude Arena.

- Dion was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, which causes muscle spasms and impacts her vocal cords, in 2022.

- She made an emotional speech during her return show, celebrating the fact that she is “singing for you and singing for me, singing live.”

Celine Dion has made a triumphant return to the stage.

The “My Heart Will Go On” chanteuse kicked off her 16-night Paris residency at the Plenitude Arena on Saturday, delivering an emotional speech as she reflected on her journey back to performing. Dion, who was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS) in 2022, has not headlined a concert since 2020.

“It’s amazing we are all together,” she tearily said in her speech, per *Variety**.* “I made a promise. I made a promise to come back and be back on stage. So, here I am, singing for you and singing for me, singing live. Thank you so very much for your support, your patience, and if I may say so, I am everything I am because you loved me.”

Watch her triumphant performance of “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song from the 1997 film *Titanic*, below.

During the show, Dion addressed her SPS diagnosis, which she previously explained had caused spasms and impacted her vocal cords.

“By living with it day in and day out, I’ve come to terms with it. And I’ve decided to make it my reason for living,” she said.

And the “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” singer took her own hardship as a lesson to share with her audience.

“Look around here, all around you right here in this room. We don’t know what the person next to us is going through,” she continued. “There are people going through hardships, grief, and sorrow. There are people radiating energy and joy. So let’s take that energy and share it. That’s what music is for. Tonight, we’ll sing, we’ll dance, and we’ll celebrate.”

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Céline Dion once relied on high doses of Valium to function amid stiff-person syndrome

During the show, she also performed hits like “I’m Alive,” “Power of Love,” and “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.”

Dion’s last concert was held in March 2020 as part of her *Courage* World Tour. The remaining tour dates had been postponed due to COVID-19 and later canceled following her SPS diagnosis.

Dion performs during her first concert in six years at Paris’ Plenitude Arena on Sept. 12.

Thomas SAMSON / AFP via Getty

“I always give 100 percent when I do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now,” she told fans in December 2022 after sharing her medical issues. “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 that I can to recuperate.”

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Dion made her grand comeback to performing during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she sang Édith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à l’Amour.”

That same year, she released her documentary *I Am: Celine Dion*, in which she reflected on the tour cancellation and explained why she took a break from the public eye. She shared how difficult it was to be unable to perform.

“It’s not hard to do a show, you know? It’s hard to cancel a show,” Dion admitted. “It’s been a struggle. I miss it so much. The people, I miss them. If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl… I won’t stop.”

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