Celine Dion made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Grammys to present the album of the year award, following her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis.
“When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart,” she said, as the audience stood up to cheer her on and sing along to her song “The Power of Love.” “Those who have been blessed enough to be here at the Grammy Awards must never take for granted the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world.”
Dion explained that she was on the Grammys stage to present an award that was given to her 27 years ago by “two legends,” Diana Ross and Sting.
The awards show had teased a surprise presenter for the final award of the night. The Hollywood Reporter spotted Dion earlier in the evening with stylist Law Roach, who came out of retirement to style her for music’s biggest night. Roach posted that she wore an outfit by Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, which she paired with Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
This year’s album of the year award went to Taylor Swift for Midnights, making her the first artist in Grammys history to win the night’s top prize four times. She previously took home the award for Fearless in 2010, 1989 in 2015 and folklore in 2021.
Dion’s appearance at the 2024 Grammys was a surprise to all, considering the music icon has been candid about her health struggles over the last couple of years. She revealed her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in December 2022 and has since had to cancel her world tour.
A year after that announcement, her sister Claudette Dion shared that the singer was working hard to battle through her disorder but had lost control of her muscles. Claudette also noted that Dion planned to return to the stage in some capacity, but she didn’t know what state she would be in when she did.
The “My Heart Will Go On” singer just announced Amazon MGM landed the rights to a documentary detailing her health struggles, I Am: Celine Dion, as she continues to navigate her career.
“This last couple of years has been such a challenge for me, the journey from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not to let it define me,” Dion said when news of the doc dropped.“As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realized how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans. During this absence, I decided I wanted to document this part of my life, to try to raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis.”
FAQs
Celine Dion made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards amid the singer battling stiff-person syndrome, a rare and incurable neurological disorder. After Trevor Noah announced Dion, the room gave her a standing ovation that moved the star. “Thank you all. I love you right back,” Dion said.
What are the symptoms of stiff person syndrome Celine? ›
As she recorded multiple albums and performed back-to-back sold-out tours and residencies, the five-time Grammy winner did everything she could to power through muscle spasms in her throat and feet, difficulty breathing and walking, vision issues and, most severely, "crisis" episodes during which her body became stiff ...
What is the life expectancy of a person with stiff man syndrome? ›
Patients typically present with initial symptoms between 40 and 60 years, although the onset has been reported in patients who are younger than 40 years and older than 60 years. From symptom onset to death, the course of SPS can range from 6-28 years.
What did Taylor Swift do to Céline Dion at the Grammys? ›
Dion also addressed one of the most-talked-about moments from the evening, when Dion presented Taylor Swift the Grammy for album of the year for Midnights. Swift drew criticism for seemingly ignoring Dion while accepting her Grammy onstage.
Who escorted Celine on stage at the Grammys? ›
She was escorted onstage by her 23-year-old son, René-Charles Angélil, which Dion admitted helped give her the support she needed to present the award.
What is the root cause of stiff person syndrome? ›
It is believed to be an autoimmune disorder — in autoimmune conditions, the body's immune system attacks healthy tissues. Similar to other autoimmune conditions, SPS affects more women than men. Most people with stiff person syndrome have unique antibodies in their blood that are made by the body.
Can you recover from stiff person syndrome? ›
There is no cure for Stiff Person Syndrome. When doctors treat patients with this condition, they focus on relieving symptoms with medications such as sedatives, muscle relaxants, and steroids. Intravenous Immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis, among other immunotherapies, may also be prescribed.
What happens if you hug someone with stiff-person syndrome? ›
People with SPS initially experience muscle stiffness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, muscle spasms and rigidity become more pronounced. These muscle spasms can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, and are triggered by unexpected noises, physical contact, stress and/or emotional anxiety.
What are the final stages of stiff-person syndrome? ›
In the end stages of the disease, few muscles in the body are spared. Trismus is absent. However, facial and pharyngeal muscles may be affected markedly. Joint deformities may occur.
What famous people have stiff-person syndrome? ›
In 2022, Céline Dion revealed she was suffering from stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes spasms and muscle stiffness. Though Dion's sister Claudette told a French newspaper last year that the singer could no longer control her muscles, Céline and her powerful vocal cords are not giving up.
Celine Dion has opened up about her emotional appearance at the 2024 Grammys earlier this year. for her 2022 album, Midnights. “It made me feel better for a moment to hold onto this coat, to hide myself a little bit from all these little things,” Dion said about her fashion choice for the evening.
Are Taylor Swift and Celine Dion friends? ›
Taylor Swift and Céline Dion have shown plenty of love to one another over the years, starting in 2010 when they posed for a picture together at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards (above). Dion also presented an award to Swift at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, where they shared a sweet onstage embrace. No drama, all love.
What did Celine Dion say at the Grammys? ›
“I got my own imperfections,” she sang, before adding, “So, we did it.” Celine Dion at the Grammys in Los Angeles in February 2024.
Who is Celine Dion's partner now? ›
Did Celine Dion's son walk her out at the Grammys? ›
In fact, the "My Heart Will Go On" singer was joined by none other than her eldest son René-Charles Angélil, 23, who escorted his mother when she took to the stage to present the award for Album of the Year, which was awarded to Taylor Swift's Midnights.
Why was Selena wearing a coat at the Grammys? ›
One lesson we can take from Selena: It's never a bad idea to dress to impress your host. The jacket doubles as a distraction from the celebrity gossip news of the evening. Everyone from Grammy watchers to Justin Bieber was waiting to see Selena and the Weeknd attend their first event together.
What can be mistaken for stiff-person syndrome? ›
SPS is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, psychosomatic illness, or anxiety and phobia.
What are the stages of SPS? ›
There are three different stages of SPS: early, advanced and end. Symptoms vary from case to case and depend on the stage in which the person is diagnosed. In the early stage, individuals experience an exaggerated upright posture (rigidity) primarily in the trunk and abdomen that fluctuates.
Is stiff-person syndrome a form of MS? ›
Background: Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neuroimmunological disorder presenting with a wide variety of signs and symptoms that mimic neuro-inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), thus delaying diagnosis.
