Céline Dion made a triumphant return to the stage at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
The star, who has been diagnosed with the neurological disorder stiff person syndrome, sang Edith Piaf’s Hymne a l’amour at the Eiffel Tower for a global audience of millions, her first live on-stage performance since early 2020.
She appeared bathed in light, accompanied by a pianist and the Olympics rings above her, delivering a stirring rendition of the 1950 song. It was originally written by Piaf to her boxer lover Marcel Cerdan, who died in a plane crash after it was first performed.
NBC host and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson was choked up after the performance referring to Dion as an “athlete” for what she has achieved.
Dion previously performed at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
“Every time I return to Paris, I remember there’s so much beauty and joy still to experience in the world,” Dion wrote in a social media post. “I love Paris, and I’m so happy to be back!”
"Si je dois revenir chanter, ce sera pour les Jeux Olympiques."
— France tv (@FranceTV) July 26, 2024
4 ans après sa dernière performance sur scène, voici la sublime performance de Céline Dion qui reprend "L'hymne à l'amour" d'Edith Piaf.#ceremoniedouverture #paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Y7qM4ARKNO
Lady Gaga also appeared to perform Mon truc en plumes earlier in the evening, arriving down a set of stairs next to the Seine, in a custom Dior costume, surrounded by dancers and a parade of feathers in tribute to Zizi Jeanmaire. It was reported that the singer spent two months rehearsing the number.
“Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music,” Gaga wrote in a social media post. “It is my supreme honor to sing for you and cheer you on!! Watching the Olympic Games always makes me cry!”
In a 2019 essay, Dion paid tribute to Gaga, calling her “one of the most inventive artists we’ve ever seen” and “one of the greatest voices in the world”.
French-Malian megastar Aya Nakamura also performed a medley of her hits including Pookie and Djadja. The singer was at the centre of a racist storm earlier this year when there was far-right outrage, including from Marine Le Pen, over the possibility that she might be performing.
Other celebrities in attendance included Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who co-star in the big screen adaptation of Wicked, the first part of which is out later this year.
While there were rumours that Dion would receive $2m for her appearance, this was later denied.
“Contrary to some media reports, the performers at the Paris 2024 games ceremonies will not receive a fee for their performance,” a spokesperson for the Olympics said to Page Six. “Their decision to perform under these conditions reflects their desire to be part of a historic event for France and for the world of sports.”
Dion was diagnosed with the extremely rare condition in 2022 and has previously stated that it is “causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to”.
In 2023, Dion cancelled her Courage world tour as a result of her health. There is no known cure for stiff person syndrome.
The singer detailed the difficulties of her day-to-day in recent film I Am: Celine Dion, which has become Amazon’s most-watched documentary ever. The success has also impacted streams of her music with a reported 33% rise worldwide. The Guardian’s Adrian Horton praised the film as “remarkably unguarded” and “deeply earnest”.
“If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl,” she said in the film. “And I won’t stop. I won’t stop.”
During the press cycle for the film, Dion said that the severity of her muscle spasms was such that she had broken her ribs, and in April shared that she was undergoing physical and vocal therapy fives times a week.
This week saw unconfirmed reports that Dion is in the “final stages” of setting a new Las Vegas residency.
Gaga will be heading to the Venice film festival next month for the world premiere of DC sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, which sees her star as Harley Quinn opposite Joaquin Phoenix.
