Celine Dion has wowed fans with a gorgeous new photoshoot, having also opened up about living with Stiff Person Syndrome.
The powerhouse vocalist, 55, revealed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with SPS, a rare neurological disease which causes severe spasms.
Her revelation came two years after she was forced to cancel her Courage World Tour due to ill health.
The A-lister’s public appearances are now much rarer, and she hadn’t sung in public for three years until November 2023.
Speaking about her condition, the star was asked by Vogue France how she is doing.
‘And the answer is just as simple. I’m well, but it’s a lot of work. I’m taking it one day at a time,’ she replied.
When questioned on how she’s managing to get through the difficult period, Celine said: ‘I haven’t beat the disease, as it’s still within me and always will be. I hope that we’ll find a miracle, a way to cure it with scientific research, but for now I have to learn to live with it. So that’s me, now with Stiff Person Syndrome.
‘Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy. I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice… I have to learn to live with it now and stop questioning myself.
‘At the beginning, I would ask myself: why me? How did this happen? What have I done? Is this my fault?
‘Life doesn’t give you any answers. You just have to live it!’
The Canadian music legend noted that she has the illness ‘for some unknown reason’.
But, the way she views it, she has two choices.
‘Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it’s over, I stay at home, listen to my songs, stand in front of my mirror and sing to myself,’ she shared.
‘I’ve chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!’
Celine praised ‘the love of [her] family and children’, as well as the support of her fans, for helping her through.
‘People who suffer from SPS may not be lucky enough or have the means to have good doctors and good treatments. I have those means, and this is a gift,’ she noted.
‘What’s more, I have this strength within me. I know that nothing is going to stop me.’
The photos accompanying the candid interview showed her wearing an eye-catching pink fluffy gown on the cover, as well as a white shirt and mini-skirt combo.
Reacting to the shoot, fans on social media expressed their joy at seeing their idol so energetic and full of life.
‘I use to pray for times like this! I’m so happy to see Céline Dion back in the spotlight and SERVING looks at that’, wrote X user heyjaeee.
JasonReidUK wrote: ‘How wonderful to see Queen Celine back despite her recent health issues. You can’t keep a good diva down!’
The first time Celine shed light on her illness was in December last year, informing fans that she had been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune movement disorder that affects the central nervous system.
There is currently no known cure for the condition, which is said to turn people into ‘human statues’ as the body becomes more rigid.
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Speaking in a video at the time, she said: ‘Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome which affects something like one in a million people.
‘While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having.
‘Unfortunately, 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.
‘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 I can to recuperate.’
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