Rare footage from Céline Dion’s 2010 documentary, “Céline: Through the Eyes of the World,” shows the superstar grappling with early signs of Stiff Person Syndrome, an autoimmune neurological condition she publicly disclosed in 2022. In the documentary, Dion discusses experiencing vocal ‘spasms’ and cold-like symptoms that were actually early indicators of her disease.
In a heartfelt Instagram video last year, Dion revealed her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, explaining the disease’s severe impact on her ability to perform. The condition leads to intense muscle spasms and heightened sensitivity to stimuli.
Just earlier this week, Dion opened up further about her private health struggles in an interview with Hoda Kotb on Today. She shared the immense challenge of keeping her health issues away from the public eye. “What do you want me to say? I have what? We did not know what was going on. I should’ve stopped and taken the time to figure out and taken the time like it’s not enough,” Dion confessed.
“My husband as well, was fighting for his own life. I had to raise my kids, I had to hide, I had to try and be a hero, feeling my body leaving me, holding onto my own dreams. And lying, for me, the burden was too much. Lying to people who got me where I am today – I could not do it anymore,” she lamented.
People with Stiff Person Syndrome often endure uncontrollable muscle spasms, and Dion likened the sensation to being strangled while trying to sing. Describing the physical sensation, she said, “It’s like somebody is pushing your larynx/pharynx this way,” while gesturing towards herself.
In the 2010 footage, a 40-year-old Dion is seen discussing her troubling symptoms with a doctor. “My main problem now is my neck, I cannot relax my neck so I cannot relax my vocal chords so I cannot vocal exercise well,” Dion explained. “My main problem is not that I can’t do the highs, I’m spasming, my eyebrows are spasming, my ears. I tell you I’m gonna flip soon, I’m telling you.”
During the documentary, Dion also shared her struggles with her team while on tour. “To make a long story short, by the time I went to the meet and greet my breathing was too rapid, I was spasmed up too much, I couldn’t finish a phrase,” she recounted. “The show has not started yet, I was saying hello to people and I couldn’t breathe, I went on with the show. And when I sang ‘I drove all night for the first time’ it was [out of tune] ‘I drove all night’ right there. Yesterday night after doing everything I was spitting out mucus.” She admitted to her dancers, “I’m having a really hard time right now.”
Since stepping back from public performances in 2019, Dion has focused on her health. Fans can look forward to learning more about her journey in an upcoming Amazon Prime documentary titled “I Am: Céline Dion,” set to release this month.