Celine Dion in Tears During Comeback Show After More Than 6 Years

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Canadian singer Celine Dion returned to the stage for her first full concert in more than six years, performing Saturday night, September 12, at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, France.

The 58-year-old singer opened the first night of her 26-show residency at the arena, formerly known as the Paris La Défense Arena. Her return comes after her live performing career was sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic and her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome.

Celine Dion Gets Emotional During Comeback Concert

Dion began the concert with her 1998 song “On Ne Change Pas” but stopped seconds into the track after becoming visibly emotional, according to People.

The “My Heart Will Go On” singer appeared to wipe away tears before placing a hand on her chest and putting her hands together, seemingly as a gesture of gratitude to her fans.

After the emotional moment passed, Dion finished the song before moving on to another 1990s track, “Destin.” She then took a moment to address the audience, speaking first in French and then in English.

“There are many of you here tonight from all over the world. Thank you so very much for coming. If it’s your first time in Paris. I hope you fall in love with it, just like I did. Finally, it’s amazing we are all together,” Dion told the crowd.

“I made a promise. I made a promise to come back, to be back on stage,” Dion continued. “So here I am, singing for you and singing for me, singing life!”

“Thank you so very much for your support, your patience and if I may say so: I am everything I am because you loved me,” Dion said before transitioning into her 1996 hit “Because You Loved Me.”

Why Celine Dion Was Away From the Stage

Dion’s last full concert was in March 2020 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, United States. After that performance, the remainder of her tour was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while rescheduled shows were later canceled because of health complications related to her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis.

Dion was diagnosed in 2022 with the rare and progressive autoimmune and neurological disorder, which can cause muscle rigidity, mobility problems, painful spasms and shortness of breath.

The singer has performed publicly since her diagnosis, first appearing at the base of the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Later that year, she performed at the “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab” fashion show in Saudi Arabia. However, Saturday’s performance marked her first full concert since her return to the stage.

In an August cover story for Harper’s BAZAAR, Dion said she had been preparing for her Paris shows by taking new medication and undergoing physical and vocal therapy and immunotherapy. She also said she had been doing Pilates three times a week and attending ballet classes.

In the same interview, Dion said the Paris shows were her way of expressing gratitude to her devoted fans.

“It’s been so long, I would like to offer them something to show how I’ve missed them,” she said.