Celine Dion and Lady Gaga perform at the Olympic opening ceremony
Bienvenue à Paris, Celine Dion and Lady Gaga!
Dion took center stage at a rainy Olympic opening ceremony in Paris on July 26 with a powerful performance to close the event. It marked the first time she has performed in public in years following her stiff person syndrome diagnosis.
She sang Edith Piaf's “Hymne à l’amour” after the cauldron was lit. Her rendition received immediate praise on social media.
In a statement on social media, Dion wrote that she was "honored" to perform at the 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 perseverance," she said in a slideshow post of photos from the event. "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!"
Earlier, Olympic viewers saw Lady Gaga perform a stylish number at the opening ceremony.
She serenaded the assembled crowd with “Mon Truc En Plume” in a tribute to French dancer and actor Zizi Jeanmaire. She was joined by several dancers holding pink feather fans during the performance.
Afterward, Gaga wrote on her social media accounts she was "completely grateful" for the opportunity.
"Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music — I wanted nothing more than to create a performance that would warm the heart of France, celebrate French art and music, and on such a momentous occasion remind everyone of one of the most magical cities on earth — Paris," she added.
The ceremony followed public sightings of both music icons earlier in the week.
Dion, 56, seemed to hint in recent months that she may be making an appearance in Paris sometime soon.
She told Vogue France in April that she had been training “like an athlete” to manage her physical health and her singing voice, and name-dropped a Parisian landmark.
“I’ve chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team,” she told the publication. “I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!”
Two days before the opening ceremony, Dion also revealed on Instagram that she was in Paris, sharing photos of herself at the Louvre.
“Every time I return to Paris, I remember there’s so much beauty and joy still to experience in the world,” she wrote in the caption. “I love Paris, and I’m so happy to be back! Thank you to our wonderful friends at The Louvre!”
Dion has been open about her health struggles in recent years. In December 2022, she revealed she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that can cause muscle stiffness, sensitivity to noise and touch, emotional distress, and severe muscle spasms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
In May 2023, the singer canceled all remaining dates of her "Courage World Tour" due to her illness.
The “My Heart Will Go On” singer opened up about her experiences with stiff person syndrome, and her efforts to return to the stage, in her recent documentary, “I Am: Celine Dion.”
The documentary, available to stream on Prime Video, captured several raw, intimate moments, including one scene in which Dion experiences a severe, full-body spasm on camera.
Dion has opened up about her determination to perform once more and connect with her fans.
“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,” the singer told Hoda Kotb in June in a prime-time special, her first broadcast interview since her diagnosis.
“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,” she continued. “It’s because I want to. And I miss it.”
As for Gaga, she was spotted earlier this week in Paris, blowing kisses and waving to fans from outside a car, per video shared to X. She wore a black hat, sunglasses and a leather jacket as she formed a heart with her hands to the crowd.
Earlier this year, Gaga dropped a bombshell announcement at the end of her HBO concert special, “Gaga Chromatica Ball,” teasing new music. As she struck several poses in the shadows, “LG7” and “Gaga Returns” flashed across the screen.
At the premiere of her concert film, Gaga confirmed her seventh studio album was in the works.
“I have written so many songs and I have produced so many songs,” Gaga said before hinting at a possible genre change for her music. “It’s nothing like anything that I’ve ever made before. I love to break genre, and I love to explore music. There’s something really beautiful about knowing that you will be loved no matter what you do.”
Along with being in the studio, Gaga had also been on set filming “Joker: Folie à Deux,” the sequel to the 2019 “Joker” film.
The movie follows the story of the Joker, being reprised by Joaquin Phoenix, meeting his love interest, Harley Quinn, portrayed by Gaga. The sequel will reportedly feature musical elements and choreographed numbers.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” drops in theaters Oct. 4.
Tune in to the Paris Olympics on NBC and Peacock.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
