Celine Dion is famous for the Grammy Award winning song “My Heart Will Go On,” and while her heart might go on, the show won’t.
The 55-year-old superstar announced the cancellation of her “Courage World Tour” dates through 2024 and “will likely never tour again,” according to sources close to her. Since being diagnosed with an extremely rare neurological disorder, life has gotten hard for Dion.
The songstress originally postponed several shows last December after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a condition that doesn’t allow for her normal breathing and movement on stage. The rare ailment causes spasms and muscle rigidity, and the singer has to undergo daily physical therapy to deal with the symptoms. It is so rare in fact, there are no treatments available.
This is what Dion said about the condition at the time of her diagnosis per CNN:
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having,” Dion said at the time. “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
Apparently, the condition has only worsened, and the Canadian born singer is cancelling the rest of her tour, including her Vegas residency. She announced the cancellation on social media, via CNN:
“I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again,” an announcement on the singer’s social media read. “I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%. It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again. I want you all to know, I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!”
Dion doesn’t sound like she is ready to throw in the towel on touring, but an individual close to the situation said: “She is in a lot of pain. She does daily physical therapy.”
Known for her sweeping ballads and soaring vocals, Dion has been entertaining fans since her debut album “Celine Dion,” was released in 1992. She reached the pinnacle of her success with the 1997 ballad, “My Heart Will Go On,” from the James Cameron film “Titanic.” Her songs have been iconic for more than two decades, and she has toured relentlessly.
Dion has spent the last thirty years releasing albums and scoring chart success. She has scored four number one hits, ten top ten hits, and a total of twenty-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Even if she never steps onto a stage again, her legacy is established as one of the classiest, hardest working pop superstars of our lifetime.
Aside from her chart success, she also has been called the “queen of Vegas,” with long-running residencies at Caesars Palace Colosseum, among others.
Little is known about stiff-person syndrome except that the disorder is “a rare, progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
No treatment is available, and physical therapy is the only way to mitigate symptoms. There is no way to tell how she got the rare disorder, only that she is suffering, and trying to manage the pain and symptoms as best she can.
People who already have tickets can get refunds at the point of purchase. Best wishes to Celine Dion for a speedy recovery and return to the stage.
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