Photo Credit; Getty Images
Céline Dion has announced her return to performing with a 10-night residency at the Paris La Défense Arena this September and October. This marks her first scheduled appearance in four years, following a diagnosis of an incurable condition that severely impacted her singing voice and mobility. The residency will take place at the 40,000-capacity venue, featuring the "My Heart Will Go On" singer's first live shows since her health forced a hiatus.
The announcement came on the day of her 58th birthday. In a message on her Instagram page, Dion called her comeback "the best gift of my life".
"I'm so ready to do this," she told fans. "I'm feeling good, I'm strong, I'm feeling excited, obviously, of course, a little nervous."
Dion, who is one of the best-selling artists of all time, has not performed her own show since Newark, New Jersey on 8 March, 2020. Her Courage tour was subsequently cut short by the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, before she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome and forced to cancel all future shows.
For her live return, all the concert dates are separated by several days, presumably to avoid undue strain on her physical health.
Tickets will go on sale from 7 April. Demand is expected to be astronomical, but fans can register interest on her official website from Tuesday, 31 March.
Plans for the comeback were initially leaked by the French-Canadian newspaper La Presse last week. Soon afterwards, fans spotted posters featuring Dion's lyrics popping up around the French capital.
On Monday night, shortly after 8pm GMT, the Eiffel Tower lit up with the message, "Paris, je suis prête" (Paris, I am ready), and fans were treated to a playlist of songs including I'm Alive, Encore Un Soir and My Heart Will Go On.
Dion also recorded a French version of the video message announcing the tour, which was played over loudspeakers as the Tower was illuminated by purple lights.
Dion announced she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in December 2022.
