Céline Dion Is 'Honored' and 'So Full of Joy' After Surprise Return to Live Performance at 2024 Summer Olympics

Dion closed out the ceremony with a performance of 'Hymne A L'Amour' on Friday night in Paris

Céline Dion is taking in the moment.

After her stunning performance — in French!— at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, July 26, the Canadian singer expressed her gratitude on social media.

"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," Dion, 56, wrote in a post to Instagram. "Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance."

She added, "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…"

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A post shared by Céline Dion (@celinedion)

She also shared a series of photos on X (formerly known as Twitter), where she wrote, "Let the games begin!????Sending love and luck to all competitors. - Celine xx…"

Dion closed out the ceremony with a moving performance of “’Hymne A L’Amour” by the French singer Édith Piaf from a stage at the base of the Eiffel Tower.

The performance marked her first since she announced her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in December 2022.

Related: Céline Dion Greets Fans in Paris as Rumors of Her Performing at 2024 Summer Olympics Grow Stronger

On Thursday, July 25, Dion was spotted emotionally interacting with fans while leaving the Royal Monceau Hotel in the French capital. She was also seen in the city on Tuesday, July 23 ahead of the Summer Olympics kickoff.

Prior to the Games, Dion read the Montreal Canadiens’ fifth-round draft pick aloud at the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft in Las Vegas on June 28. She also made an appearance at the New York City premiere of her Prime Video documentary, I Am: Céline Dion, a film where she details her experience with stiff-person syndrome and a desire to perform again.

During an interview with PEOPLE in June, Dion opened up about how she has "a wonderful coach vocally" and that her treatment plan is "making such a difference."

"We're talking about putting a show together, and I have so many ideas. I can't wait," Dion said at the time.

"If I would have just stayed secretly behind, my home would have become a prison, and I would have become a prisoner of my own life," she added of raising awareness for SPF. "Today, I live one day at a time. The fact that I found the strength to communicate my condition with the world makes me very proud. Maybe my purpose in this life is to help others, and that is the greatest gift."

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. And sign up for Going for Gold, our Olympics newsletter, to get the biggest stories from the Games delivered straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, beginning July 26, on NBC and Peacock.

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