Celine Dion received an emotional welcome from fans in Paris on Saturday night as she left her hotel ahead of the first concert in her five-week residency.
The 58-year-old singer is returning to the stage for her first run of concerts since she cancelled the remainder of her Courage world tour in 2023.
Dion, who is due to perform at the Plenitude Arena, appeared touched by a gesture from supporters known as “the red heads”, who had prepared a candy apple stand in her honour.
The tribute referred to a statement made by fans after she disclosed her diagnosis with Stiff Person Syndrome, or SPS, in December 2022.
“We’re not here for the apple, we’re here for the tree,” they said at the time, expressing their concern for Dion’s health and wellbeing above her performances.
The singer took time to speak to supporters before leaving for the arena. She wore cream trousers with feathered detailing down the side, paired with a black blazer.
Stiff Person Syndrome causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms. At its worst, the condition left Dion struggling to walk properly and unable to use her singing voice as she had previously.
Dion has said she is now fighting fit for her return. She has previously described undertaking 90-minute Pilates sessions three times a week, fortnightly ballet classes, physical and vocal therapy, and immunotherapy.
“It’s been so long, I would like to offer them something to show how I’ve missed them,” she told Harper’s Bazaar of returning to the stage.
Her last performance was at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games ceremony. Her 2024 documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, offered an unfiltered view of her life with the condition, including a scene in which she experienced a painful muscle spasm.
“They paid for tickets. They bought my records. They gave me that luxury. So the least I can do is tell them that I’m alive,” Dion said of allowing viewers access to her private life.
She has described her diagnosis as a “progressive condition” rather than a “disease”, saying the latter reminded her of a scene from Home Alone.
