Celine Dion is set to return to the stage in Paris on Saturday for her first full concert in six years, marking a major milestone in her comeback after being diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder Stiff Person Syndrome. The 58-year-old Canadian singer will open a 26-date run at the sold-out Plénitude Arena outside Paris, where around 30, 000 fans are expected to gather. Some fans travelled to the venue a day early to celebrate Dion’s return, while others have joined singalongs and tribute events across the French capital ahead of the concert. Dion, known for global hits including My Heart Will Go On, It’s All Coming Back to Me Now and Because You Loved Me, has sold around 260 million albums in English and French during a career spanning more than four decades. Her Paris residency includes 16 sold-out shows in September and October, followed by another 10 performances next May. Fans unable to secure tickets have found other ways to celebrate her comeback. Dion has occasionally stepped outside her hotel in Paris to greet supporters, sometimes singing and dancing with them into the early hours. The city has also hosted costume contests, karaoke parties and tribute cruises on the Seine. Hundreds gathered in northeastern Paris on Friday for a free singalong featuring some of Dion’s best-known songs. Dion’s return follows years of uncertainty over whether she would be able to perform again after revealing in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare and incurable autoimmune disorder that can cause severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms. The condition forced her to cancel concerts and made singing difficult, but Dion remained determined to return to the stage. She offered fans a glimpse of her comeback at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, when she made a surprise appearance on the Eiffel Tower and performed Edith Piaf’s Hymn to Love. Dion has repeatedly spoken about her determination to resume full performances. With her Paris residency now beginning, fans are set to witness the return she had long hoped to make.
Celine Dion makes long-awaited stage comeback in Paris
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