Canadian singer Celine Dion was supported by a bodyguard while standing from her car to greet fans in Paris this week.
The 58-year-old superstar relied on the hidden security staff member to keep her steady while wearing towering heels, ahead of her upcoming five-week residency in the French capital.
While the singer appeared to stand tall unaided as she smiled and raised a gloved hand to admirers, a member of her security team crouched out of sight to press a helping hand against her back. Dion greeted supporters wearing a £2,590 charcoal wool midi dress by Bottega Veneta, which featured dramatic draping gathered by a brown leather belt at the waist. She completed the ensemble with oversized sunglasses, long brown leather gloves, heeled knee-high boots, and a black handbag. The Italian luxury fashion house is widely known for its high-end couture and leather designs.
The Paris shows mark Dion's first run of concerts since she was forced to cancel the remainder of her Courage world tour in 2023. The Canadian vocalist, who achieved global stardom with hit records including My Heart Will Go On and The Power of Love, has maintained a historic music career spanning more than four decades.
Diagnosis and Health Battles
Dion revealed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, or SPS, which causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms. At its worst, the debilitating condition left her unable to walk properly or use her singing voice as she once had.
Stiff person syndrome is a rare neurological and autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system. It causes progressive muscular rigidity and severe body spasms, often triggered by environmental factors such as noise, physical touch, or emotional distress. For professional vocalists, the condition poses severe challenges to breath control and posture.
Four years after receiving the diagnosis, the star said she is fighting fit for her return. To prepare for live performances, the singer previously shared that she maintains an intensive routine consisting of 90-minute Pilates sessions three times a week and bi-weekly ballet classes, alongside physical therapy, vocal therapy, and immunotherapy.
Reflecting on her return to live audiences, Dion shared her eagerness to reconnect with supporters. "It's been so long, I would like to offer them something to show how I've missed them," she told Harper's Bazaar of heading back out on tour.
Documentary Access and Fan Connection
The singer last performed on stage at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games closing ceremony, having been forced to cancel her Courage world tour the previous year. The international sporting event brought global attention to the French capital.
Her health battle was highlighted in the candid documentary I Am: Celine Dion, released in 2024, which provided an unfiltered glimpse into her life living with the condition. In one harrowing, 10-minute scene, she could be seen writhing around in agony after suffering a muscle spasm, which left her crying out in pain.
Addressing her decision to share such private moments with viewers, Dion explained her appreciation for her audience. "They paid for tickets. They bought my records. They gave me that luxury. So the least I can do is tell them that I'm alive," she said of giving viewers access to her private life.
On why she retains such a dedicated fanbase, she added: "It's got to be because I'm an open book. I'm honest, and it's not always pretty. Sometimes it's happy things, sometimes it's sad, but it's called life."
Dion also explained that she prefers to describe her diagnosis as a progressive condition rather than a disease. She noted that the word disease reminds her of a scene in the 1990 comedy film Home Alone, in which Jeff McCallister says to his brother: "Kevin, you're such a disease."
