Celine Dion wowed fans at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
Celine Dion has not performed for four years
Last updated 29th Jul 2024
Celine Dion performed live for the first time in four years at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 'Think Twice' singer was previously spotted in Paris ahead of the games with fans believing she was due to take the stage.
However, with organisers not confirming the performers ahead of the show, fans had to wait until late on Friday (26th July) to see if she would take to the stage.
Eventually, right at the end of the four-hour ceremony, Celine took to a stage half-way up the Eiffel Tower, where she performed Edith Piaf's 'L'Hymne A L'Amour'.
She later took to Instagram to tell her fans what it meant to her: 'I’m honored to have performed tonight, for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, and so full of joy to be back in one of my very favorite cities! Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance. All of you have been so focused on your dream, and whether or not you take home a medal, I hope that being here means that it has come true for you! You should all be so proud, we know how hard you have worked to be the best of the best. Stay focused, keep going, my heart is with you!
'- Celine xx…'
Seeing Celine perform was an amazing feat, after she revealed her diagnosis with Stiff Person Syndrome two years ago, something which is documented in the recent film I Am: Celine Dion.
Before the Opening Ceremony, Celine confirmed she was in the French capital telling her fans: 'Every time I return to Paris, I remember there’s so much beauty and joy still to experience in the world. I love Paris, and I’m so happy to be back!
'Thank you to our wonderful friends at The Louvre!'
Rumours first began swirling back in April this year, when she appeared on the cover of Vogue France. The singer told the publication how she has been undergoing a gruelling training program to regain her strength.
She also told Vogue France: "I want to be my best self. I want to see the Eiffel Tower again."
Celine's performance in Paris wasn't the first time she has performed at an Olympic ceremony. In 1996, the singer performed 'The Power of the Dream' at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Olympics.
Celine first rose to fame when she won the Eurovision Song Contest, representing Switzerland in 1988. She later released her first English-language album 'Unison' in 1990. In 1997, her international popularity was solidified after she released 'My Heart Will Go On', which was featured on the Titanic soundtrack.
Earlier this year, Celine's documentary film I Am: Celine Dion was released on Prime Video. The emotional documentary follows the singer after her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, and how she copes with the spasms.
Speaking about the documentary in a statement, the 55-year-old singer said: "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.
"As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realised how much I have missed it, 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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