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Céline Dion made her long-awaited return to the stage in Paris on Saturday night, her first full concert in six years.
The Canadian singer, who announced in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with a rare neurological condition known as stiff person syndrome, wept as she took to the stage in front of 30,000 fans at the Plenitude Arena in the French capital’s western suburbs.
“The path was rocky, the journey took longer than expected,” she told the crowd. “But I found myself drawn to a faint beam of light in the distance, deep in the mountains”.
“Tonight, I want to sing for you. To sing for myself. To sing for life,” she added amid cheers.
Dion went on to perform some of her most celebrated and iconic hits, including “My Heart Will Go On” and “Because You Loved Me,” drawing praise from fans and critics alike.
Saturday’s show – which reportedly saw former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama as well as a number of French politicians in attendance – marks the first in a run of 26 nights at the Plenitude Arena, formerly known as La Défense Arena.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has congratulated Dion on what he called “an incredible return to the stage after six long years.”
“It’s all coming back,” he wrote in a post on social media.
In December 2022, Dion announced that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that can cause muscle stiffness and spasms.
The disorder, which is incurable, forced the singer to cancel shows and led many to question whether her performing days were over.