Fans of Celine Dion have waited in anticipation for the singer to continue her Courage World Tour, which she has postponed over health concerns. In the past, the star stated that she was often dealing with unexplained muscle spasms. But in a new emotional video, Dion shared her latest health update, revealing that the spasms were the symptoms of a shocking diagnosis, a rare neurological disorder called Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS)
A heartbreaking announcement
In a rare social media appearance, Celine Dion sat in front of the camera to share the tragic news on Instagram. “Hello, everyone. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reach out to you,” she began. “As you know, I’ve always been an open book, and I wasn’t ready to say anything before. But I’m ready now.”
She continued by revealing that she was diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. The disorder affects one in a million people. And while there is still a lot to learn about the rare condition, she discovered that it was the cause behind all the spasms.
The spasms have affected every facet of her daily life, causing difficulties in movement and preventing her from using her vocal cords to sing the way she is used to.
Postponing her world tour
Dion is tirelessly working with doctors and sports medicine professionals to regain her strength to perform. But, until she can do so, she has postponed the Courage World Tour, canceling the summer 2023 shows and moving spring 2023 shows to 2024.
She admits that building back her strength and her ability to perform again has been a struggle. “All I know is singing, it’s what I’ve done all my life, and it’s what I love to do the most,” Dion said, tearing up. She addressed her fans, saying, “I miss you so much. I miss seeing all of you, being on the stage—performing for you. I always give 100% when I do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now.”
About SPS
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, SPS is an autoimmune disease with fluctuating muscle rigidity in the limbs and trunk and heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise and touch, which can cause muscle spasms. It’s frequently misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease. Researchers are still trying to understand the disorder, and there is currently no cure.
When will we see Celine again?
Dion thanked fans at the end of her Instagram video for their patience, love, and support. “I love you guys so much,” she exclaimed. “I really hope I can see you again real soon.”
The news of her diagnosis devastated fans and followers, who expressed their love and support.
It may be a while before fans can expect to see the singer on stage. However, there is a silver lining. Celine Dion announced that she’s making her film acting debut in Love Again, a romantic comedy set to release in 2023.