Singer Celine Dion performs at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, September 18, 2019.Dion says she is suffering from a rare neurological disorder, prompting the beloved Canadian singer to postpone and cancel some upcoming tour dates.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Celine Dion says she’s been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder, prompting her to postpone and cancel some upcoming tour dates.
The Quebec-born songstress says she has “stiff-person syndrome,” a condition characterized by sudden severe muscle spasms, which affects an estimated one in a million people.
In an emotional video posted to her Instagram page early Thursday morning, the 54-year-old singer says “she has no choice” but to concentrate on her health, postponing her European “Courage World Tour” dates from February to April and cancelling a run of shows from May to July.
Her shows from August to October are set to go ahead as scheduled.
Dion says the condition has affected “every aspect” of her daily life, making it difficult at times to walk and sing the way she is used to.
She says it’s been difficult to face and talk openly about her health struggles, after first postponing the tour in April citing what she called at the time severe and persistent muscle spasms.
But Dion says she is working with a team of doctors with the support of her children in hopes of eventually retaking the stage.
“I have hope that I’m on the road to recovery. This is my focus and I’m doing everything I can to recuperate,” she said in the video.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2022.
