Celine Dion made a comeback to the live stage on Friday, July 26, singing Edith Piaf’s classic “L’Hymne A l’Amour” to close the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
“In the ceremony we have a love anthem and that’s L’Hymne A l’Amour. We all wanted to finish the show with this song and our first idea was very simple and clear. We wanted to ask the best singer to sing love and this is Celine Dion,” artistic director Thomas Jolly told Reuters.
“It was obvious for us to ask her to do that to close the ceremony.”
???? @celinedion is spectacular and Paris sparkles with the Olympic spirit! ✨
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024
Paris 2024 is here!!! ????#Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/es3KmnGD2k
The 56-year-old singer said in late 2022 that she had been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome that causes muscle spasms.
The syndrome causes muscle rigidity and increased sensitivity to sound, touch, and emotional stimuli that can trigger spasms. The condition led the multiple Grammy winner to cancel all of her tour dates for 2023 and 2024.
The Canadian singer, who started her career singing in French, had not performed live since March 2020, when she appeared in New Jersey.
“How proud we are! Our Celine singing Edith Piaf’s L’hymne à l’amour at the Opening Ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games,” Quebec Premier Francois Legault wrote on X.
“A proud Quebecer from Charlemagne is on stage at the Opening Ceremony! Celine Dion is a Canadian icon, an incredible talent, and she overcame a lot to be there tonight,” Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on X.
“Celine, it’s great to see you singing again.”
I’m honored to have performed tonight, for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, and so full of joy to be back in one of my very favorite cities! Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and… pic.twitter.com/Ak6iKfhgzX
— Celine Dion (@celinedion) July 27, 2024
Dion, best known for the Titanic movie theme song “My Heart Will Go On,” was first spotted in Paris on Tuesday, July 23, triggering speculation that she would be part of Friday’s extravaganza. – Rappler.com
