Céline Dion expressed her gratitude for her son René-Charles’ support during her return to the stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
On Friday, Aug. 16, the 56-year-old Canadian singer shared an Instagram post offering a behind-the-scenes look into the preparation for her July 26 performance of “Hymne A L’Amour” by French singer Édith Piaf, which she delivered at the base of the Eiffel Tower.
The performance marked a surprise comeback for Dion and her first appearance since revealing her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome in December 2022.
In the video, Dion included footage of herself outside a hotel, warmly greeted by fans who had come with balloons to show their admiration for the global superstar.
The clip then transitioned to Dion changing into her stunning outfit for the Olympics Opening Ceremony. The dazzling silver dress, crafted by Dior, took over 1,000 hours to create and featured approximately 1,640 feet of beaded fringing.
Dion also shared scenes of her in the hair and makeup chair, seated in front of a brightly lit vanity as she prepared for the performance with a smokey eye look.
The “I’m Alive” singer demonstrated her agility by performing stretches before the show.
Once fully accessorized, she was ready to take the stage.
As Dion left her dressing room, she acknowledged her team with fist bumps before meeting René-Charles, 23, who was waiting for her at the base of the stage riser.
Her eldest son, whom she shared with her late husband René Angélil, appeared visibly emotional in the clip as he witnessed his mother’s triumphant return to the spotlight. Following a heartfelt embrace, Dion began her performance.
In an interview ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in June, the “My Heart Will Go On” singer spoke about how her sons — René-Charles and 13-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy — inspire her to keep fighting stiff-person syndrome.
“There was a time when I could barely walk, and I missed living so much. My kids started to notice, and I thought, ‘They’ve already lost a parent. I don’t want them to be afraid,’ ” she shared.
Angélil passed away from throat cancer in 2016 at the age of 73, after being married to Dion since 1994.
“I reassured them, ‘You lost your dad, but mom has a condition that’s different. I’m not going to die. It’s something I’m going to learn to live with,’ ” Dion continued.
The rare, incurable condition had caused Dion to endure severe muscle spasms, as well as difficulty walking and breathing, for years before she was diagnosed with SPS.
Her symptoms became so overwhelming that she had to cancel a planned Las Vegas residency and multiple tour dates in late 2021 and 2022.
The Paris Olympics marked her first performance since the diagnosis, though she did make a surprise appearance at the Grammys in February to present Taylor Swift with the Album of the Year award.
“I miss it so much. I miss the people,” Dion reflected on her work. “If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl… but I won’t stop.”
Her comprehensive documentary, I Am: Céline Dion, is now available for streaming on Prime Video.
