We’re not sure if our hearts will go on… after seeing the emotional video shared by music industry icon Celine Dion. The “Power of Love” singer fought back tears, as she shared with fans that she has been diagnosed with a rare disorder known as Stiff Person Syndrome, or SPS — forcing the cancellation of some upcoming tour dates.
SPS affects “something like one-in-a million people,” the 54-year old explains, “I wasn’t ready to say anything before – but I’m ready now. 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 talk about everything that I’ve been going through.”
The Canadian-born singer shares two versions of the video, one in English, and one in French. Dion’s been struggling with the mysterious condition since last year, when she canceled her Las Vegas residency and other tour dates due to uncontrollable muscle spasms.
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Unfortunately, the condition impacts Dion’s ability to do what she does best — sing. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, SPS is characterized by extreme muscle stiffness, as well as “muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms.” Such spasms are often painful, and debilitating.
“These spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to,” she said. “I always give 100 percent when I do my shows. But my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now,” she painfully admitted.
The good news is, according to the mom-of-3, the disorder, while incurable, is manageable, and therefore some upcoming concert dates are merely postponed, instead of being canceled altogether. “I have a great team of doctors working alongside me to help get better and my precious children, who are supporting me and giving me hope.”
She says she’s also doing sports medicine therapy to build back her strength but admits it’s “been a struggle.” For now, she’s focusing on her health and plans to return to her European tour in 2024.
“All I know is singing. It’s what I’ve done all my life. And it’s what I love to do the most,” the Grammy-winner shared. “For me to reach you again, I have no choice but to concentrate on my health at this moment. And I have hope that I’m on the road to recovery. This is my focus. And I’m doing everything that I can to recuperate.”
With dozens of hit songs and five Grammy awards under her belt, if anybody can beat this thing, it’s her. We can’t imagine a world without Celine’s magical voice in it, and we wish her well.
