Celine Dion, a Canadian music megastar who suffers from a rare neurological illness, said in her first interview since announcing the career-ending diagnosis that she is fine but handling things “one day at a time.”
Dion, 56, revealed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a condition that produces stiff muscles in the torso, limbs, and legs, with noise or mental discomfort known to provoke spasms.
As the cover of Vogue France’s May edition, she assured the magazine she was “well” but that her condition necessitated “a lot of work.”
“Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy,” she 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,” she said.
There is no cure for Stiff Person Syndrome, which is progressive, however medication can help manage symptoms. The US National Institutes of Health reports that it affects twice as many women as males.
Dion was forced to cancel a string of 2023 and 2024 gigs in May of last year, citing a lack of strength to tour.
When asked about her potential return to the stage, Dion told Vogue France she “can’t answer that” right now.
“I don’t know… My body will tell me,” she said.
Dion made a surprise cameo at the Grammys in February, presenting Taylor Swift with the Album of the Year award.
In January, Dion stated that she would create a feature-length documentary about her condition for Amazon Prime Video to raise public awareness.
Dion has sold over 250 million albums in her decades-long career.
The Quebec-born star’s “Courage World Tour” began in 2019, more than three years after her longtime manager and husband, Rene Angelil, died at the age of 73.
Dion had finished 52 gigs before the Covid-19 pandemic put the rest on hold.