On Thursday, Celine Dion, 54, revealed that she would be canceling and postponing shows after being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been challenging for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” she said emotionally in a video.
“Recently, I have been diagnosed with a very rare neurological syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people,” she said, adding that this is causing all of the “spasms” she’s been having.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, stiff person syndrome results in rigidity and spasms in the trunk and limbs. Leg muscles are the first to stiffen over time, then arms and face muscles.
In addition to making it difficult for her to walk, the condition has also prevented the singer from singing like she used to.
“All I know is singing,” she said. “It’s what I’ve done all my life, and it’s what I love to do the most.”
Toward the end of her video, she said she would not be ready to resume her tour in Europe in February.
“It’s been a struggle,” she said, adding that she has “hope” that she will recover with ongoing treatment.
Eight of the performer’s summer 2023 shows were canceled, and her spring 2023 shows have been moved to 2024.
