The seriously ill singer presented Taylor Swift with an award that she once received herself.
Canadian singer Céline Dion caused a lot of excitement at the 66th Grammys on February 4th. Since her illness became public in December 2022, the five-time Grammy winner has rarely appeared in public. At the end of the evening there was a surprise: the 55-year-old came on stage and was greeted with a standing ovation.
“I love you, you look beautiful”
With the support of her eldest son Rene-Charles Angelil and wearing a floor-length dress, Dion came to the microphone and thanked her for the applause. “I love you, you look beautiful,” she shared touchedly. “When I say I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from the bottom of my heart.”
Dion finally presented pop singer Taylor Swift with the award for album of the year. Dion himself won this for the first time 27 years ago. In total, the musician was nominated 16 times during her career and received her first Grammy trophy in 1992.
Stiff Person Syndrome
The singer had largely withdrawn from the public eye in recent years because she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. This is a rare and incurable neurological disorder that can cause debilitating muscle spasms. It affects the central nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord. The Stiff Person Syndrome Foundation explains: “The neurological disorder can include symptoms such as rigidity, debilitating pain and chronic anxiety. Muscle spasms can become so severe that they can dislocate joints and even break bones.”
Documentation with rare insights
“I Am: Céline Dion,” a documentary about Céline Dion, will soon be shown on Amazon Prime Video. However, the focus will not be on her musical career, but on her illness. To provide rare insights into her daily hurdles, Oscar-nominated director Irene Taylor (“The Final Inch”) accompanied the 55-year-old over a long period of time. There is currently no start date. Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, described the film as a “raw, intimate portrayal.”