Sports fans across the globe are looking forward to the 2024 Summer Olympics beginning later this month in Paris.
But now? As a result of a few rumors circulating around the Internet?
Music fans are looking forward to the event, as well.
Celine Dion announces Ivan Demidov as the fifth overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft at Sphere on June 28, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
As you very sadly have likely heard by now, Celine Dion has been forced to take a lengthy hiatus from performing due to stiff-person syndrome… a rare and incurable neurological disease that can cause debilitating muscle spasms.
She has vowed to return to the stage at some point, however.
And The Sun reported in late June that the icon has been offered a spot at the Olympics.
As cited above, they will be held in Paris this year — and Dion speaks fluent French, having been born in Quebec. This would therefore seem like the perfect opportunity, right?
Céline Dion attends the “I Am: Celine Dion” New York special screening at Alice Tully Hall on June 17, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Maybe.
Hoda Kotb recently interviewed Dion for NBC and then later appeared on Watch What Happens Live.
She told Andy Cohen during this appearance that the artist almost spilled on her upcoming performing plans, detailing an exchange she overheard as follows:
“They were shooting us doing that walk-and-talk and her manager was off-camera. And I go, ‘So what’s going on, when are you performing again?’ And she goes, ‘Can I tell her?’ And her manager goes, ‘NO!’”
Kotb interpreted this to mean that SOMEthing is in the works.
Céline Dion attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
For his part, Cohen doubts any concert will take place on such a worldwide stage.
“I think it’s not gonna be [the Olympics],” he said this month while chatting with Kotb. “And here’s why: I think it would be amazing, but my understanding is that this is something that she can’t control.”
To be clear, Cohen has no inside knowledge in this case.
But his point that Dion may prefer a more flexible setting to make her wildly-anticipated return is a reasonable one.
Celine Dion performs during “One World: Together At Home” presented by Global Citizen on April, 18, 2020. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
Back when Dion announced her heart-breaking diagnosis, she told fans:
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through…
“Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological condition 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 that this is what has been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having.”
Dion is a five-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most successful solo artists of all-time; she has sold over 200 million albums throughout her career.
Celine Dion performs on the opening night of her new world tour “Courage” at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec, on September 18, 2019. (Photo by Alice Chiche / AFP) (Photo by ALICE CHICHE/AFP via Getty Images)
According to the Stiff Person Syndrome Foundation, the condition affects the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord.
“Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life,” Dion continued in her video in 2022, although she did leave the door open to perform again… at some point.
“All I know is singing,” she said back then. “It’s what I’ve done all my life. And it’s what I love to do the most.”
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