Celebrity

Celine Dion reveals a ‘raw, intimate’ glimpse into her health struggle

Matthew Hart
Feb 01, 2024
Excitement among fans reached new heights as they eagerly anticipated the opportunity to delve deeper into Dion's captivating journey. Source: Getty Images.

Iconic singer Celine Dion is set to offer fans an intimate glimpse into her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in a new documentary titled, I Am: Celine Dion.

Helmed by the Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor, the documentary unveils an intimate exploration into the life and legacy of one of the most accomplished figures in the history of music.

The documentary delves into both the past and present of Dion’s life, shedding light on her ongoing struggle with SPS and the extraordinary measures she has taken to maintain a connection with her adoring and steadfast fanbase.

Head of Amazon MGM Studios, Jennifer Salke said it was an honour “to be trusted with her story”.

“Celine Dion is a global megastar with a career defined not only by her extraordinary work ethic and passion, but by her dedication to her fans,” she said.

“This documentary is a raw, intimate portrayal of a pivotal time in her personal life and career, pulling back the curtain on her journey as she overcomes an unthinkable diagnosis. It’s an [honor] to be trusted with her story.”

Taking to Instagram, Dion explained that she hopes to “raise awareness” about SPS and “help others who share this diagnosis” through the documentary.

“This last couple of years has been such a challenge for me, the journey from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not to let it define me,” she said.

“As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realized how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans. During this absence, I decided I wanted to document this part of my life, to try to raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis.”

 

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A post shared by Céline Dion (@celinedion)

Excitement among fans reached new heights as they eagerly anticipated the opportunity to delve deeper into Dion’s captivating journey.

“We can’t wait! We love you so much, Celine,” one fan wrote.

“WE LOVE YOU AND WE MISS YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE!! Thank you for choosing to share your journey with us. Your strength, determination, and values are so important. You gave us so much, and you are still continuing to give. You’re THEEE VOICE. For so many. Forever.”

“Stay strong! We love you!” commented another.

“OMG! I’m thrilled with the news. We miss you Celine!”

In December 2022, Dion surprised her fans by candidly sharing on social media that she had been diagnosed with SPS. This condition had a profound impact on every aspect of her daily life, causing occasional challenges in walking and affecting her ability to use her vocal cords.

“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time,” Dion said at the time.

“And it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through.

“Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff person syndrome which affects something like one in a million people.

“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms I’ve been having.

“Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.

“It hurts me to tell you today that this means I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.”

 

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A post shared by Céline Dion (@celinedion)

Stiff person syndrome, as explained by the National Organisation for Rare Disorders (NORD), is a rare neurological disorder marked by gradual muscle stiffness and recurring episodes of painful muscle spasms. These spasms can manifest sporadically or be triggered by various factors, such as sudden noise or light physical contact.

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