As of May 26th, iconic French Canadian singer Celine Dion announced she would be canceling the rest of her world tour through 2024. Dion has been recently diagnosed with a rare autoimmune and neurological disease called “Stiff Person Syndrome.” It’s a rare disease that causes progressive stiffness and severe muscle spasms. As the illness has affecting her singing and health, she was forced to start cancellation in December 2022. In an emotional Instagram video, she told her fans:
“I am sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I am working very hard to build back my strength, but touring can be difficult even when you are 100%. It’s not fair to keep postponing the shows, it’s best to cancel everything now until I’m ready to be back on stage once again. I want you all to know, I am not giving up…And I can’t wait to see you all again.”
The world tour had been scheduled to run until April 2024. It would start in Amsterdam and move its way around the world in cities like Helsinki, Prague, and London. Her native Quebec would have got the most attention, as fans tend to pour in whenever she is in town. It was also the city that gave her a lot of support when the video was first released. As tickets are refundable, the tour would have been her first one in a decade.
Dion is known for her iconic accolades such as “Because You Loved Me” and “Think Twice.” Of course she is known most for “My Heart Will Go On,” the hit theme song from Titanic. The singer started singing when she was 12 years old and got her big break when her mother sent a recording of her to Rene Angelil. Angelil is a French Canadian talent manager who helped build her up, especially with the monetary funds. She then started shows in Vegas, where she played at Caesars palace every night for 16 years with very little breaks.
She also recently starred in the rom-com “Love Again,” which was released back in May of this year. It was also her first movie role, starring alongside actors such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan. As her future is unknown at this point, hopefully it will not be long until she returns to the stage. Given her condition, it is unlikely it will be soon, as recovery could take awhile.
