Celine Dion made a triumphant return to the public eye at the 2024 Grammys on February 4, surprising fans and fellow artists alike. This marked her first public appearance in months since revealing in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome, a progressive neurological disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord.
Stepping onto the stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to present the final award of the night for Album of the Year, Dion received a heartfelt standing ovation from the Grammys audience. As the crowd erupted in applause, Taylor Swift, the recipient of the award, joined in singing along to Dion’s iconic “The Power of Love,” which played during her entrance.
Addressing the crowd with gratitude and emotion, Dion expressed, “When I say I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart. 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.”
📹 | Celine Dion presents Taylor Swift with Album of the Year at the 2024 #GRAMMYs
— Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNZ) February 5, 2024
Dion, a Grammy-winning artist herself, had previously clinched the Album of the Year award in 1997 for “Falling Into You.” Her most recent wins came in 1999 for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance with the timeless hit “My Heart Will Go On.”
Taylor Swift hugs Celine Dion at the #GRAMMYs https://t.co/5AQ04buW9w pic.twitter.com/mARe9epuzU
— Variety (@Variety) February 5, 2024
Despite being out of the spotlight due to her health condition, Dion’s sister, Claudette Dion, has kept fans informed about Celine’s journey. The disorder has impacted Dion’s ability to walk and sing, prompting the cancellation of live performances and tours. Last week, it was announced that Amazon MGM had acquired a documentary titled “I Am: Celine Dion,” which chronicles her battle with Stiff-Person Syndrome over the past year. Dion expressed her hope that the documentary would raise awareness about this little-known condition.
Reflecting on her challenging journey, Dion shared, “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. 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 help others who share this diagnosis.”
“I Am: Celine Dion” is set to be available for streaming on Prime Video at a yet-to-be-determined date, offering an intimate glimpse into Dion’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity.