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New York Post
Celine Dion delivers emotional comeback performance on Eiffel Tower at Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony
By Sean Mandell,
2024-07-26
Celine Dion gave a powerhouse performance at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Friday, July 26.
The French-Canadian singer, 56, delivered a rousing rendition of “L’Hymne à l’amour” from the first stage of the Eiffel Tower.
Celine Dion sings at the Eiffel Tower on the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday, July 26. NBC Celine Dion singing on the first stage of the Eiffel Tower underneath the Olympic rings on Friday, July 26. NBC Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. AP
Dion wore a full-length sparkly silver gown for her iconic return to the stage.
Celine Dion gave a powerhouse performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony amid her battle with stiff person syndrome. NBC Spectators near the Eiffel Tower watch as Celine Dion closes out the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Shutterstock Celine Dion performs during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on Friday, July 26, 2024. REUTERS Celine Dion was seen leaving her hotel en route to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Friday, July 26, 2024. Aissaoui Nacer / SplashNews.com
Stiff person syndrome is described by RareDiseases.org as a “rare acquired neurological disorder characterized by progressive muscle stiffness (rigidity) and repeated episodes of painful muscle spasms.”
Celine Dion acknowledged fans outside her hotel in Paris on Friday, July 26, 2024 as she left to go to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Aissaoui Nacer / SplashNews.com Lady Gaga performs during the athletes parade on the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. Getty Images Lady Gaga sang the French song, “Mon Truc En Plume” at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. NBC Lady Gaga performs at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 OIympics. NBC Lady Gaga performs in Paris, France, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. AP Lady Gaga blows kisses to fans from the roof of her car in Paris on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Aissaoui Nacer / SplashNews.com
Earlier in the day, Gaga did a final dress rehearsal of the song, exciting fans as pics spread on social media.
Gaga and Dion’s show-stopping performances put to bed the days-long speculation that they would be singing at the opening ceremony.
Both were photographed around Paris in the days leading up to the start to the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Celine Dion waves to fans outside her hotel in Paris on July 23, 2024. KCS Presse / MEGA Celine Dion seen leaving her hotel in Paris on July 23 , 2024. KCS Presse / MEGA Celine Dion leaves the Royal Monceau hotel in Paris on June 24, 2024. CYRIL PECQUENARD/SIPA/Shutterstock Celine Dion gets a rose from a fan outside of her hotel in Paris. Aissaoui Nacer / MEGA
Dion was spotted blowing kisses and showing her fans some love as they camped near the entrance to the Royal Monceau hotel on the Champs Elysee, the same hotel where Gaga was staying.
On Wednesday, July 24, perhaps sensing that the jig was up, the “My Heart Will Go On” singer posted snaps of herself visiting the Louvre.
“Every time I return to Paris, I remember there’s so much beauty and joy still to experience in the world,” Dion wrote on X , formerly known as Twitter.
“I love Paris, and I’m so happy to be back! Thank you to our wonderful friends at The Louvre!”
Every time I return to Paris, I remember there’s so much beauty and joy still to experience in the world. I love Paris, and I’m so happy to be back! Thank you to our wonderful friends at The Louvre! Celine xx…
French President Emmanuel Macron struggled to keep the news of Dion’s performance a secret when asked about the rumors and the singer’s social media post in an interview with France 2 TV .
“Apparently she has arrived in Paris, it’s great!” he said, attempting to be coy. “I would be immensely happy if she could be at this opening ceremony, like all our compatriots.”
“I will not reveal anything, what [opening ceremony director] Thomas Jolly and all his teams have prepared,” Macron remarked, before adding, “There is also a surprise.”
Celine Dion in Paris on July 23, 2024. Aissaoui Nacer / MEGA
Celine swarmed by fans in Paris. KCS Presse / MEGA
This alleged new residency, said to be in the “final stages of negotiation,” will reportedly be set at Resorts World. Her previous two residencies were at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
It was only earlier this year that many wondered whether Dion’s health struggles would preclude her from ever singing again live and in public.
“Oh, I’ll sing again,” she told CBC. “I’ll sing again. That’s for sure. The expectation, [fans] deserve to have an expectation.”
“They pay,” she added.
“I’m 56 years old. And for many, many years, I’ve done a lot, a lot of shows. We’ve had a lot of happiness because of the fans paying shows and buying my records.”
Dion insisted that her fans “have all the rights to have all the expectation[s]” of her. But, she added that her “own expectation is probably bigger than what they expect from me.”
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