Kelly Clarkson Had To Apologize During Her Emotional Reaction To Céline Dion's Olympic Comeback Performance

Summary

• Celine Dion overcame Stiff Person Syndrome to make an emotional comeback at the 2024 Paris Olympics, moving fans and even Kelly Clarkson.
• Dion's determination to return to the stage despite health challenges was inspired by her fans, with whom she shared her struggle.
• The documentary "I Am: Céline Dion" gave a raw look at her battle with the disorder, aiming to raise awareness and funds for research.

Céline Dion is one of the most legendary singers of all time. From her string of hit singles to her millions of albums sold to her sold-out concerts, Dion has made a lasting impact on the music world.

However, her recent battle with Stiff Person Syndrome has put her back in the spotlight for a different reason. The disorder causes stiffness in the torso and limbs, and it can produce intense muscle spasms. Dion has said it also affects her vocal ability. This has caused an outpouring of love and support for the singer from her millions of fans around the world.

For Dion, this has been an extremely difficult battle which has left her feeling more determined than ever to return to the stage. Dion would finally get her wish when she sang at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her performance was so well-received, even fellow singer Kelly Clarkson got emotional during her reaction.

Kelly Clarkson Got Emotional After Watching Céline Dion's Comeback Performance At The Olympics

In July 2024, Céline Dion made a triumphant return to the stage in the midst of a long battle with Stiff Person Syndrome. The icon sang atop the Eiffel Tower at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Dion sang the Edith Piaf classic "Hymne A L’Amour."

The moment was a pleasant surprise for fans of the singer, who was rumored to be taking the stage at the ceremony. Dion had been open about her private health struggles and made it clear she wanted to make a long-awaited comeback.

To see Dion accomplish this thrilled her millions of fans around the world, especially fellow singer Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson was covering the NBC broadcast of the Olympic Games and shared her emotional reaction to Dion's performance.

"I’ve been inspired, I’ve been dancing, I was not ready for that ending," Clarkson said as she began to tear up. "If you know anything about Céline right now, she feels this is her purpose … and if you know anything about what she’s going through right now — I’m so sorry, I’m trying to hold it together right now. But then she got through that. That was incredible. In my field, she is the gold winner for vocal athletes."

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the opening ceremony, shared with Reuters why Dion was the ideal choice for the performance.

"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 Céline Dion," Jolly explained. "It was obvious for us to ask her to do that to close the ceremony."

After her performance, Dion herself shared some thoughts on her social media. In her post, she commended the many athletes who were participating in the games.

"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!" Dion wrote.

"Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance. All of you have been so focused on your dream, and whether or not you take home a medal, I hope that being here means that it has come true for you! You should all be so proud, we know how hard you have worked to be the best of the best. Stay focused, keep going, my heart is with you!"

Céline Dion Vowed To Return To The Stage In An Interview Shortly Before Singing At The Olympics

Just one month prior to her epic comeback performance, Dion sat down with NBC's Hoda Kotb for an emotional interview discussing her health battle.

During the conversation, Dion vowed to make a return to the stage for her fans, but most importantly, herself.

"I’m going to go back onstage, even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to talk with my hands. I will. I will," Dion said. "I am Céline Dion, because today my voice will be heard for the first time, not just because I have to, or because I need to. It’s because I want to. And I miss it."

Dion said she had no doubt it would "absolutely" happen and joked, "You better be ready."

• However, Dion said this time she would be listening to her body and understand the show doesn't have to go on if it means compromising her health.
• "I believe in myself, in my bravery," Dion said, adding that she hoped to be "smart" about deciding when to end things if necessary.
• "I know that I have a good team right now (who will say), 'No show tonight,'" Dion said. "It’s going to be hard. It will probably happen."

Dion then got emotional when sharing her determination to get her voice back.

"I’m not going to scare my fans. I’m not going to come home tonight and tell my kids that I had to stop the show," a tearful Dion said. "I’m going to come onstage because I’m ready. And my vocal cords will not scare me, because I’m going to be ready, and I’m going to hit those notes."

Dion told Kotb that the disorder wouldn't "control my life" and said that her vocal cords were getting stronger.

"I don’t want to be scared of myself and questioning my music, my songs. I don’t," Dion said. "Because music is a language. And it’s in everybody’s life."

Celine Dion even said she worried about her fans forgetting about her.

She told them directly that she wanted them to come see her when she eventually makes her comeback.

"I want you to come and see me again," Dion told her fans. "I would like to invite you to sing with me again."

According to Dion, her fans might not realize "how much they are a part of the show."

"The adrenaline. That’s what we need," Dion said. "I just can’t wait. I just can’t wait."

Céline Dion Released A Documentary Which Showed Raw Footage Of Her Health Battle

That same year, Dion released the documentary I Am: Céline Dion on Prime Video. The film explored the singer's ongoing battle with Stiff Person Syndrome and showed raw footage of her journey.

In one scene, Dion returned to the recording studio for the first time following her diagnosis in August 2022. Moments after the studio session, Dion headed to a physical therapy session, which is part of her ongoing treatment plan. She then began to feel spasms in her foot.

Dion's body then locked up and it was clear she was experiencing intense pain. Her care team administered diazepam nasal spray during the SPS crisis episode.

"If she goes back into a spasm, we'll do a 9-1-1," a member of her team said.

After the episode, Dion told the camera that it was an embarrassing moment for her.

"Every time something like this happens, it makes you feel so embarrassed," Dion said. "I don't know how to express it ... you don't like to not have control of yourself, you know?"

Dion further reflected on the moment when speaking to People.

"One part of the [SPS] condition is that overstimulation — whether it's happiness, whether it's sadness, whether there's sound, a surprise — can put me into a crisis," Dion explained.

Dion said that she "did not see" the crisis episode coming that day.

"I was fine," she said, "and then something was triggered."

The film's director, Irene Taylor, said being "two feet away" from Dion while it was happening helped her better understand the disorder.

"That was truly an extraordinary thing, not only for Céline to experience, but for me to witness," Taylor said. "I kept filming because that is my mode of operating, and then I figured we would determine afterward whether to edit that into the film."

Taylor said her decision to keep the footage in the film was made after developing a close bond with the singer.

"I knew that putting it in the film was really not a risk because she believed in me at that point," Taylor said. "She is an open book, and she was really there and holding nothing back, so I really can only thank her for that."

Dion said that her goal is to help humanize the disorder and raise money, so scientific research eventually discovers a cure.

"Neuropathy can be really wide. That's why I'm trying to be really involved in raising funds for people to consult and talk about it with their neighbor, their friend, their husband," Dion said.