Celine Dion, 56, recently made a brave return to singing following a harrowing seizure captured in her new Prime Video documentary, I Am: Céline Dion. The film offers an unfiltered look at her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare condition that causes intense muscle spasms and stiffness. In one gut-wrenching scene, Dion suffers a seven-minute seizure—her body rigid, conscious, yet powerless—until nasal Valium and medical intervention bring relief. Despite the pain and public embarrassment she felt, she insisted the raw footage remain in the film, saying her truth “is what I go through”.
Fans and critics reacted with overwhelming support. Many praised her courage, while one fan on Reddit described the experience as “heart-wrenching” and “gave me even more respect and admiration for her… as a person.”.
In an inspiring show of resilience, Dion returned to public performance atop the Eiffel Tower during the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony—singing Édith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour” to a spellbound world audience. This marked her first live show since her diagnosis and showcased a voice as stunning and heartfelt as ever . The Independent reported her joy in being back, and fans were moved to tears.
Behind the scenes, Dion has fought through the effects of SPS with determination. At her lowest point, she was dependent on dangerously high doses of Valium—up to 90 mg daily—just to function and perform. With a rigorous five-day-a-week regimen of vocal, physical, and athletic therapy, she has vowed that if she can’t walk, she’ll crawl; and she promised she will not give up
