Rumours have been swirling that Celine Dion could make a long-awaited return to the stage for the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
It would mark the first time the Canadian singer has performed since she cancelled a Las Vegas residency and tour dates after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, an incurable and rare neurological disorder which causes muscle stiffness and spasms.
She’s remained coy about a potential Olympics performance, as have the event’s organisers.
So why is hype building around an emotional Dion return on Friday? Here’s what we know.
How did speculation start?
It seemingly started as wishful thinking from Dion fans, but the singer herself inadvertently added fuel to the fire.
In her first broadcast interview since her diagnosis, Dion opened up about her struggles with stiff-person syndrome, revealing she took life-threatening doses of Valium to ease muscle spasms.
It was an emotional talk with NBC’s Today host Hoda Kotb released in June.
Then on 9 July, Kotb made an appearance on Watch What Happens Live! on Bravo, where she was asked by a Dion fan whether she thought the singer might have a surprise performance on her schedule – such as at the Olympics.
Kotb said a conversation they had after the interview might have revealed something.
“So when we were walking around… and her manager was off camera,” she said.
“And I go, ‘So what’s going on? When are you performing again?’ And she goes [to her manager], ‘Can I tell her?’ And her manager goes, ‘No!’ He screamed ‘No,’ so I was like… so there’s something. So whether it’s the Paris Olympics, wouldn’t that be spectacular?”
Dion is in Paris
The My Heart Will Go On singer arrived in the French capital on Tuesday from Las Vegas, and waved to fans outside her hotel.
She posted on X on Wednesday, sharing photos of herself at the Louvre Museum, along with the caption: “Every time I return to Paris, I remember there’s so much beauty and joy still to experience in the world.
“I love Paris, and I’m so happy to be back! Thank you to our wonderful friends at The Louvre! Celine xx…”
She reposted the message in French for good measure, along with a couple of other photos.
Politician further stokes rumours
The question was put to France’s minister of sports Amelie Oudea-Castera on French channel TF1’s Bonjour breakfast show.
She did well to dodge it, refusing to confirm or deny whether Dion would be there, but promising an “exceptional line-up of artists” including dancers, musicians and actors at Friday’s opening ceremony.
That might have been enough to keep Dion fans from a frenzy – but the politician then said Dion’s presence in Paris was “not by chance”.
How can she manage it?
Dion has been open about her struggles with stiff-person syndrome, previously saying she could only perform in the last few years before 2022 due to taking copious amounts of Valium.
Her new documentary explores her debilitating symptoms in detail, giving viewers a glimpse into what it’s like when she has an episode, and how her condition affects her voice.
Celine Dion in June. Pic: Reuters/Andrew Kelly
In April this year she told Vogue France that while she hasn’t beaten the rare neurological disorder, she has learned to better manage it.
“Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy,” she said.
“The way I see it, I have two choices,” she continued. “Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it’s over, I stay at home, listen to my songs, stand in front of my mirror and sing to myself.
“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!”
Who else could be performing?
Fellow pop icon Lady Gaga has also been on the rumour mill, having also landed in Paris on Tuesday.
Lady Gaga performs at 2017 Super Bowl. Pic: AP
Other rumours have included appearances from Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande.
One of France’s most popular contemporary artists Aya Nakamura has been rumoured to be performing for months, after reports surfaced of her meeting the French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss it in February.
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What could Dion sing?
French newspaper Le Parisien reported she would sing L’Hymne à l’amour by Edith Piaf, while French journalist Thierry Moreau claimed on X Dion would perform another Edith Piaf classic, La Vie en Rose, along with Lady Gaga in a duet.
Dion, who was born in Charlemagne, Quebec, has a discography of both English and French tunes.
It’s All Coming Back To Me Now
If Dion does appear, it will be the second time she’s taken to the Olympic stage, her first performance coming at the 1996 Atlanta Games, when she sang The Power Of The Dream, a song written specifically for the games.
Celine Dion performs in Paris in 1996 – the same year she did the Olympics. Pic: AP