Céline Dion makes her incredible return to the stage in Paris four years after being diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome, often referred to as 'human statue disease.' The legendary singer has been 'training like an athlete' to get back to doing what she does best with fans desperate to see her on stage once again09:59, 12 Sep 2026Updated 10:27, 12 Sep 2026Tonight, Céline Dion doesn't just get her voice back. The superstar says she's getting her life back too.‌The legendary performer has been away from the stage for six years, battling a rare neurological disorder that she once feared had taken away the thing she loved most.‌Céline was diagnosed with Stiff Persons Syndrome - a cruel and devastating illness that can leave sufferers effectively 'trapped' in their own bodies.‌At its worst, the condition left her suffering full body spasms so severe they broke her ribs, while the rigidity made it difficult for her to breathe and swallow - let alone sing.Tonight, after years of treatment, rehabilitation and uncertainty, Céline will perform her first full concert in years.‌The agonising early stagesCéline's battle with Stiff Person Syndrome began long before she officially knew what was wrong.The singer said she experienced symptoms for 17 years, dealing with worsening muscle stiffness and difficulty walking. Most frightening for the star, who has sang since she was a child, her vocal chords began to feel 'hijacked' with spasms locking her throat muscles in place.For a long time, Céline tried to carry on performing without letting her fans know how much she was struggling.‌She adopted a multitude of tactics to try to disguise her suffering - changing the tone of songs, pointing the microphone towards the audience so they could sing for her, pretending the sound was malfunctioning and occasionally leaving the stage for brief periods.But behind the scenes, her symptoms were becoming increasingly difficult to hide.‌As her husband René Angélil battled throat cancer, Céline was also caring for him and raising their children, while her own symptoms continued to worsen.Eventually, Céline said the condition began to affect 'every aspect of her daily life' - from her ability to walk to her ability to sing.Describing what the spasms feel like, Céline previously said: “It's like somebody is strangling you. It's like somebody is pushing your larynx [or] pharynx.”‌It was not until August 2022 that Dion received her diagnosis.Four months later, in December, she finally told her fans what she had been going through.“Lying for me, the burden was too much. Lying to the people who got me where I am today, I could not do it anymore,” she said.‌Céline also had to explain the diagnosis to her three children."'You lost your dad, [but] mom has a condition, and it’s different,' she recalled telling them. "'I’m not going to die. It’s something that I’m going to learn to live with.'"‌What is stiff-persons-syndrome?It is a rare condition that can leave sufferers effectively trapped inside bodies that suddenly become rigid, painful and almost impossible to control.For those living with the condition, even the simplest movements can become excruciating - and a sudden noise or touch can trigger a violent muscle spasm.SPS affects the central nervous system. It affects only a few people per million, with women more likely to develop the condition than men. Symptoms most commonly begin in adulthood, often in a person's 30s or 40s.‌The most common early symptoms are painful muscle stiffness and rigidity, particularly affecting the muscles of the torso as well as the legs.The condition can make walking increasingly difficult and, in some cases, patients may eventually need a cane, walker or wheelchair.The Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation describes the condition as involving “hyper-rigidity, debilitating pain, chronic anxiety” and muscle spasms that can be severe enough to dislocate joints or break bones.‌Because SPS is so rare and can resemble other neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, it can be difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis can take years - an average of around seven years, according to the Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation.In her eye-opening documentary I Am: Celine Dion, the singer is seen experiencing a full-body spasm after attempting to record music for the first time in months, giving viewers a stark insight into the reality of the condition.‌TreatmentThere is no cure, Céline has spent years fighting to reclaim control of her own body.Treatments can only help control debilitating symptoms, including muscle stiffness and painful spasms. For Céline, getting back to the stage has meant an extraordinarily demanding rehabilitation regime.The singer has described herself as 'training like an athlete', undergoing hours of physical and vocal therapy as she works to regain control of her body and her voice.‌In 2024, she told French Vogue: “The way I see it, I have two choices. Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it's over.”“I've chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team,” she said.“Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy. I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice.”‌Her regime has included Pilates three times a week and ballet on two other days, alongside her medical treatment.But her battle with SPS has also involved medication. She has revealed that at the height of her struggle, she was taking extremely high doses of Valium to help her function. At one point she was taking as much as 90mg a day - more than twice the recommended limit- with the singer admitting herself it could stop her breathing and kill her.After years of hard work and sheer determination, she has kept going to get back to what she does best, performing at a live concert in front of thousands of fans.‌The astonishing comebackIn March this year, Céline announced her return to the stage, four years after she was diagnosed with SPS.A veteran of record-breaking Las Vegas residencies, she revealed that she would perform a series of concerts at the Plenitude Arena in Paris - her first full concert run since her health battle forced her to step away from touring.‌More than nine million people registered for the ticket pre-sale.Her return began at the 2024 Paris Olympics, when she stunned the world with a performance of Edith Piaf's “Hymne à l'amour” from the Eiffel Tower - her first live performance since publicly revealing her diagnosis.The star, known for power ballads like My Heart Will Go On and Because You Loved Me, will play 16 concerts at Europe's largest indoor arena between September and October. A further 10 days have been scheduled for May 2027.‌"I'm so ready to do this," she told fans. "I'm feeling good, I'm strong, I'm feeling excited, obviously, [and] of course, a little nervous."Addressing her medical condition, Dion said: "I'm doing great, managing my health, feeling good. I'm singing again, even doing a little bit of dancing."But I have to tell you something very important: Over these last few years, every day that's gone by, I felt your prayers and support, your kindness and love.‌She continued: "I am grateful to all of you. I can't wait to see you again."Céline Dion's concert datesSaturday, September 12, 2026Wednesday, September 16, 2026Friday, September 18, 2026Saturday, September 19, 2026Wednesday, September 23, 2026Friday, September 25, 2026Saturday, September 26, 2026Wednesday, September 30, 2026Friday, October 2, 2026Saturday, October 3, 2026Wednesday, October 7, 2026Friday, October 9, 2026Saturday, October 10, 2026Wednesday, October 14, 2026Friday, October 16, 2026Saturday, October 17, 2026‌Additional dates in 2027Saturday, May 8, 2027Wednesday, May 12, 2027Friday, May 14, 2027Saturday, May 15, 2027Wednesday, May 19, 2027Friday, May 21, 2027Saturday, May 22, 2027Wednesday, May 26, 2027Friday, May 28, 2027Saturday, May 29, 2027Article continues below