Celine Dion is poised for a monumental comeback, with rumours suggesting she will take the stage during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games this Friday. This performance will be Dion’s first since she paused her touring and retreated from the public eye after being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022.
Variety reports that Dion arrived in Paris on Monday, staying at the Royal Monceau Hotel near the Champs-Élysées. Intriguingly, Lady Gaga, another potential headliner for the ceremony, is also lodged at the same hotel. While specifics about Dion’s performance are being closely guarded, anticipation is building.
Despite multiple requests, Celine Dion’s representatives have not commented on the speculation. Nonetheless, Dion hinted at a potential return in an April interview with Vogue France, emphasizing her commitment to recovery. “I’ve chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!” she remarked.
Dion has been dedicated to regaining her strength. “For four years I’ve been saying to myself that I’m not going back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready… As things stand, I can’t stand here and say to you: ‘Yes, in four months,’” Dion told Vogue France. “I don’t know… My body will tell me.”
If the rumours are true, Dion will be performing near the Eiffel Tower as part of a nautical parade along the Seine, culminating near the Trocadero. This unique opening ceremony, which will be held outside a stadium for the first time, will showcase Paris’ iconic landmarks and feature 3,500 actors, dancers, and musical performers.
Celine Dion has a storied history with the Olympics, having performed “The Power of the Dream” at the 1996 Atlanta Games’ opening ceremony, which was viewed by a record 3.5 billion people worldwide. Recently, she voiced a video for Canadian Olympians titled “L’invincible courage,” alongside Michael J. Fox.
