Céline Dion documentary trailer shows her getting emotional while dealing with stiff person syndrome
Céline Dion is prepared to talk openly about the health challenges she has faced for years.
In a preview for her upcoming documentary, “I Am: Céline Dion,” the music icon reveals how being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome has impacted her life.
“I have been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder, and I wasn’t ready to share this before,” she says in the video clip. “But now, I am prepared.”
“I cherish every aspect of my life. When a woman loves her shoes, she always finds a way to make them work,” she goes on to say.
“It’s not difficult to do a performance. What’s hard is canceling the show. I am putting in a lot of effort every single day. But I have to admit, it’s been a challenge. I miss it terribly.”
In a recent interview with Vogue connected to the documentary trailer release, the singer talked about her initial experiences with the condition.
“Quite quickly, I started having trouble controlling my voice,” Dion shared with the magazine. “It would suddenly go high-pitched and then spasm. So, what does a singer do in such a situation? Well, you head straight to the ENT.”
Doctors examined her vocal cords but found no apparent issues, so she persevered, completed her tour, another residency in Las Vegas, and embarked on five additional tours. Along the way, she also began to encounter muscle stiffness and difficulties walking. Dion explained, “I was holding onto things.”
It was not until 2020, during the onset of the pandemic, that she had the time to seek answers. “After years of hiding from myself, my friends, my family, my kids, I didn’t want to pretend to be brave any longer. I had tried my best for as long as I could. It was time for me to act wisely,” she reflected.
Following numerous medical examinations, she received a diagnosis of stiff person syndrome. “It may sound strange to say this, but upon receiving the diagnosis, I felt relieved. I was finally able to flow with the current instead of fighting against it,” Dion expressed.
Her documentary, “I Am: Céline Dion,” described as a tribute to her fans, will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video starting June 25.
Before its release, she will have an exclusive primetime special interview with Hoda Kotb from TODAY, airing on June 11 at 10 p.m. ET, marking her first televised interview since announcing her diagnosis.
The renowned singer disclosed her condition in an emotional Instagram video posted in December 2022. Stiff person syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that can lead to stiffness and muscle spasms, impacting mobility, including the ability to sing.
In her 2022 announcement, she mentioned the necessity to cancel her tour, scheduled to commence in February 2023.
“While we are still learning about this rare condition, we now know that this is the cause of the spasms I have been experiencing,” she stated at that time. “Regrettably, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, at times making it difficult for me to walk and impeding my ability to use my voice to sing as I am accustomed to.”
She returned to social media in May 2023 to announce the cancellation of the remainder of her world tour due to health concerns.
“It is with great disappointment that we announce the cancellation of the Courage World Tour,” she posted on Instagram, which has since been removed.
In a subsequent message on her website, she expressed her regret, stating, “I am truly sorry for disappointing all of you once again. I am working diligently to regain my strength, but touring can be extremely challenging even when you are at 100%. It is unfair to keep postponing shows, and even though it saddens me, it is best that we cancel everything until I am genuinely prepared to return to the stage.”
She concluded by stating, “I want all of you to know that I am not giving up… and I eagerly anticipate seeing you again!”
Dion made a rare public appearance at the 2024 Grammy Awards in February to present the award for album of the year, receiving a warm reception from the audience. “Thank you all, I love you right back,” she expressed after receiving a standing ovation. “When I say I am delighted to be here, I truly mean it from the depths of my heart.”
She has been active on social media recently, sharing a picture with stylist Law Roach on the night of the music awards show. Additionally, on May 15, she posted a backstage photo with Mick Jagger and her sons at The Rolling Stones concert in Las Vegas.
The teaser for her upcoming documentary arrives following a recent interview with Vogue France where she discussed living with stiff person syndrome.
“I hope we can discover a miracle, a method to cure it through scientific research,” she expressed to the magazine in April. “For now, I must learn to live with it.”
