Celine Dion Reveals Why She Opened Up About Her Stiff Person Syndrome Diagnosis

Buy Me A Coffee

Céline Dion’s decision to go public with her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis was heavier than an entire orchestra’s worth of tubas.

In a candid chat with Hoda Kotb on the Today show, Céline dished out the details of her rare neurological disorder with the kind of flair only she could muster. She admitted she initially kept mum about her condition because, frankly, she was just as confused as everyone else. “What did you want me to say? ‘I have…’ what?” the 56-year-old diva quipped. “We had no clue what was happening. I mean, I thought maybe I’d just pulled a muscle from too much voguing.”

Her symptoms, which include some seriously unwelcome muscle spasms, first showed up during her Taking Chances World Tour in 2008. It wasn’t until December 2022 that Céline finally spilled the beans in an Instagram video, postponing several performances. “I should have taken a break, but I just kept going,” she told Kotb, clearly channeling her inner Energizer Bunny. At the time, she was also dealing with her late husband René Angélil’s battle with throat cancer. “My husband was fighting for his life, and there I was, trying to raise my kids and be a superhero,” she said, probably while tying on an invisible cape.

See also  Celine Dion Confirms Return To Vegas Amid Battle With Stiff Person Syndrome

Dealing with her own health rollercoaster was no picnic either. “I felt like my body was checking out on me,” she shared, revealing her internal dialogue was a lot more dramatic than her stage performances. Eventually, Céline decided honesty was the best policy. “I couldn’t keep up the charade any longer,” she admitted. “Lying was more exhausting than singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ 50 times in a row.”

In the interview, Céline hilariously described how the condition affected her voice. “It felt like someone was giving my vocal cords a bear hug,” she said, demonstrating in a voice that sounded like she’d swallowed a kazoo. “I couldn’t hit the high notes or the low ones. It was like my vocal cords were on strike.”

See also  Donald Trump's Doctor Reveals Details About His Ear Injury After Rally Shooting

She also explained the stiffness in her muscles with her signature dramatic flair. “Imagine pointing your feet and them staying there,” she said, probably striking a ballerina pose. “It’s like a cramp that’s auditioning for a horror movie. I even broke ribs because the spasms were so severe!”

This heartfelt and humorous sit-down comes just before the release of “I Am: Céline Dion,” a Prime Video documentary that follows her journey with stiff-person syndrome and her fight to return to the stage. “I wasn’t ready to say anything before,” she admitted in the trailer, “but now, I’m all in.”

See also  Kelly Clarkson Jokes About Retirement After Celine Dion Praises Her Cover

“I miss performing so much. The fans, the lights, the spotlight—I miss it all. If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl,” she declared, sounding like the most determined sloth in showbiz. “No matter what it takes, I’m getting back on that stage!”

Catch the full interview on Today, airing weekdays at 7 a.m. ET on NBC. And don’t miss “I Am: Céline Dion,” premiering on Prime Video on June 25. Grab your tissues—and maybe some popcorn for those dramatic moments!

Comments area

Sidebar

Must Read

Zayn Malik Teases New Song Ahead Of New Album Release

Guess what? Zayn Malik just dropped another bombshell! Yep,...

Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra Divorces Her Husband Via Instagram

On a fine Thursday, July 17, Sheikha Mahra bint...

Carrie Underwood Reveals What Kind Of Judge She’ll Be On ‘American Idol’

Carrie Underwood is returning to where it all began—American...

Jorge Ramos To Step Down From Univision News After Nearly 40 Years

Jorge Ramos is giving Univision's evening news a "see...

Bella Hadid and Charlotte Tilbury Part Ways

Bella Hadid has bid adieu to the renowned cosmetics...

Miley Cyrus Shows Up To Support Maxx Morando’s Band In West Hollywood

Pop superstar and part-time flower enthusiast Miley Cyrus was...

You Might Also Like

Why Did Diddy’s Attorney Pull a Houdini?

Diddy just got hit with a legal curveball that’s...

‘The Wild Robot 2’ Sequel Has Officially Been Confirmed

The Wild Robot is not just charming audiences—it’s straight-up...

Meghan Markle Talks About Staying Off Social Media at SXSW

Meghan Markle, the 42-year-old Duchess of Sass, recently decided...

James Van Der Beek Had A Vasectomy Before Being Diagnosed With Cancer

James Van Der Beek’s parenting saga is taking us...

Taylor Swift Reacts To Historic Billboard Record For ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

Taylor Swift is currently experiencing the equivalent of finding...

Pedro Pascal Finally Addresses His Caffeinated Chaos: “I Was Violated!”

It’s been over two years since the internet discovered...