Céline Dion Makes Powerful Return to Stage Amid Health Battle

Nature is healing: Céline Dion is belting onstage once again. The vocal powerhouse closed the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony with a stirring rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à L’amour.” Dion stood in the center of the Eiffel Tower wearing a silver gown dripping with glittering beads as she moved the entirety of Paris and those watching at home to tears with her jaw-dropping display of vocal force and triumphant poise. A powerful smattering of emotions reflected on her face while she sang, as though her recent health battles left no scar. The performance marks her first return to stage after sharing her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in December 2022, postponing a world tour. We saw an intimate look at Dion’s life as she battled the rare autoimmune neurological disorder in the documentary film, I Am: Celine Dion. Immediately following the performance, singer and Olympics commentator Kelly Clarkson appeared overcome with emotion as well. First at a loss for words, Clarkson simply called the icon a “vocal athlete.” Took the words right out of everyone’s mouths.

And so the Olympic torch floats away as Celine Dion sings on the Eiffel Tower — one of the most purely beautiful moments imaginable? pic.twitter.com/fU8vEBKlMh

— Vulture (@vulture) July 26, 2024

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