Well this just sucks. Celine Dion posted an emotional video yesterday that she’s canceling her European dates indefinitely. That’s unfortunate, but it’s the reason why she’s canceling that’s truly sad. Celine told her fans she’s suffering from an extremely rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome. So rare, it affects something like 1 in a million people. Celine first canceled her tour due to the pandemic. She canceled it again in January for health reasons. However, in April, she announced her 2022 show would be rescheduled to 2023. That’s the tour that is now shelved. The reason is Stiff Person Syndrome affects every part of her being, including her vocal cords and movement.
Céline Dion revealed Thursday morning that she’s been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare and incurable neurological disease that can cause debilitating muscle spasms.
In a tearful video posted to her Instagram account in both English and French, the Canadian singer said her condition would force her to postpone and cancel a series of upcoming concert dates.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” Dion, 54, wrote in the posts caption. “It hurts me to tell you that I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.”
“Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological condition called Stiff Person Syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people,” she said in her video. “While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know that this is what has been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having.”
“Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life,” Dion continued. “Sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
[From People via Just Jared]
Celine has been through so much. Her husband of 21 years, René Angélil died in 2016 (same day as Alan Rickman – it was my birthday). Her three sons were 14 and 5 (twins) at the time. She maintained her Vegas residency until 2018 to ensure her kids financial future and then in 2020, her mother passed away. And now, just as she’s getting over that, she has her own health to deal with. Plus, Celine’s therapy, beyond actual therapy, has been fashion. Only now that’s curbed too because this syndrome causes spasms that can overtake the person at any time. So Celine can’t strut down a street unassisted in her out-there outfits any more. The years since René was diagnosed have been rough for poor Celine and her boys.
I won’t pretend I’ve ever heard of this disorder prior to Celine’s announcement. You can read more about it here. It does not sound great. Fortunately, Celine has the resources to get the best care and physical therapy possible, as she said in her video. Also good is I do not read anywhere that it’s fatal. However, it does sound progressive, and I don’t see much in the way of a reversal. But, again, I really know nothing about it. Celine did not say she’s retiring, she’s just postponing – again. And she truly is astonishingly honest. So she believes she’ll be able to tour again, therefore I’m going to believe that to. But what I really want is for her to rest and get the help she needs right now. So I’ll send her all the positive energy I can. Hope for the best and think about how much good she’s done just by highlighting this disease that I’m sure I’m not the only one hearing about for the very first time.
Photo credit: Instagram and Cover Images
Before I got Myasthenia Gravis 2 years ago…I had NEVA heard of it…my Mama had it FOR YEARS & it was never diagnosed because MOST doctors hadn’t even heard of it…but that’s the thing about autoimmune disorders…the autoimmune system has NEVA been given enough attention in the medical field so MILLIONS of folks suffer & don’t know why…disorders like ours are heartbreaking because you NEVA know when it will be triggered from second to second…so the life you had…is gone forever
Lala11_7, family members of mine have also suffered from Myasthenia Gravis. The advice my father had was to go to the experts and his care got better when he did that. Hopefully you’re able to rest when needed, able to get the immune suppressants, and your muscles aren’t too weak and you can breathe. Lots of love❣️
Thank you so much for your kind words! I have received the best care available as I am VERY aware regarding my health & not having viable Healthcare for decades…my Specialists actually have let me lead in this quest…I don’t do steroids as I know what they do to the body…and I have a hemoglobin mutant gene which means I’m at HIGH risk for clotting so IV drug therapy is out…I don’t respond to Mestinon…I’m waiting to try the 2 new drugs for MG that hit the market last year because I don’t do new drugs…due to the fact that I OVERSTAND about the R&D of new drugs & I need to wait & see what happens regarding side effects..
But I’m lucky…it dosen’t effect my eyes as of yet & I make sure to eat properly…stretch…swim…and sleep…as long as I do THAT…I was cool…what has thrown a wrench in my health is the long Covid issues I have dealt with since August of this year…that horror trips my MG issues…the Long Covid has been WAY WORSE than the MG…and long covid ain’t NOTHING but autoimmune disease too
This breaks my heart. I hope she recovers!!
Celine Dion is on my very small list of “artists I want to see in concert in my lifetime.” I adore her and have for years, but I’ve never been able to go to Vegas. I have said many times that I want to see her next time it’s possible in case something happens to her voice! She toured in my city in February 2020, but I didn’t purchase tickets because at the time, $100+ tickets was out of my budget. I really didn’t have the money as much as I wanted to go But then the pandemic happened, and I have regretted not going so much.
I just went to see the Chicks recently—I’d never seen them before. I never thought I’d see them because they had taken that long break. It was my first concert since the pandemic and I cried it made me so happy. And I got tickets to see Taylor Swift this spring – I have never seen her before either. I feel like because of Covid, i appreciate the chance to see artists live so much more, and I’m willing to pay (within reason) to do it because you JUST never know.
All that to say, I’m sad for her, and sad for her fans. She’s such a treasure and her voice is a gift to the world. I pray she heals and has many more years to sing and live life well.
I’m not even a huge Celine Dion fan, but I recognise her astounding, once-in-a-generation singing talent and this made me so very sad for her, to the point where I’m still thinking about it a day after the news hit. I hope that she gets relief from her treatments and may one day again grace us with her singing. What a tragic loss to all of us if she can never perform again!
Same here. Much of her music just isn’t my speed (some is!) but I am a big fan of Celine Dion herself. This is such sad news and the only upside is that when a famous person gets a rare diagnosis, the normal people who have it also benefit from the new money and attention that flow toward it.
This is just so heartbreaking and horrible. Celine is truly a one in billion talent and watching her career when she came onto the scene here stateside has been a joy. I just wish this wasn’t happening to her.
What a devastating condition, her video was so heartbreaking to watch. I’m sending all best wishes for her good health and recovery.
What a terrible blow. Her kids only have one parent. I hope there is a way for her to recover somehow. Wishing her the best
Such sad news. Women are more likely to get autoimmune diseases and there’s just less info and knowledge out there about them. Poor Celine got energy and happiness from singing, performing and dressing up and that has been taken from her (at least at the moment). Wishing her a lot of strength and hopefully enough of a recovery to return to that which has brought her joy.
Never was a fan of her music but a huge fan of her, she is an amazingly talented and a wonderful person. She did an entertaining interview with Tom Power on Q (CBC radio). It’s on YouTube and it’s worth a watch.
This is really terrible news and I hope for the absolute best for her. Your heart will go on, cheri!
So sad to hear. I too never heard of this autoimmune disease. My heart goes out to those especially the Celebitchy commenters that also have this disease.
One of the things I really love about her is that she’s so authentic. I love her fashion choices and how much she enjoys it, and sharing it with us.
Hoping for improved health and lifestyle for Celine whom I admire. I never heard of this codition until my cousin was found to have it. She went through years of diagnostic studies to find her diagnosis. In the process, she discovered her biological family which is a great source of joy. She has gone through hell and back trying to find out what caused her symptoms and thank-you Celine for sharing her news and illuminating what Stiff Person Syndrome is.
Céline is such a star and a great human being. I wish her the very best. I feel so sad over these news. I know that’s a stupid thing to say, but still : this is unfair.
I’m sorry to hear this. I hope she does as well as possible, and can return to performing someday if she wants to.
I remember when the song My Heart Will Go On and how snarky Madonna was about it, rolling her eyes. Then there was Celine, so sweet and so excited to meet Madonna. Poor woman.
She is so raw and honest in that video, it totally broke my heart.
I feel for her and her kids.
She is talented. Had a very successful career.
But her youngest children are under 14 I think.
I do appreciate Celine’s vocal talent. Her “O Holy Night” this time of year ALWAYS gets me. Plus, her music ruled the nineties. I hope w/ her resources and this diagnosis that she will be able to slow the progress of her disease and draw attention to the Rare Diseases workgroup at the NIH. As a woman w/ Arthritis, FMS and neurological conditions And Auto-immune stuff running in the background — I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to have that going on and to just get shrugs when your Auto-immune system is running wild! It happens predominantly to women and no one is adequately addressing it.
I can selfishly say I went to see Celine in concert and that it was one of the greatest shows I have ever seen. She gives her all in her shows and this diagnosis just reads horrible and when you are Celine, it will truly effect the show. Here is hoping she rest up and get healthy.