Pop diva Celine Dion reveals she is suffering from Stiff-Person Syndrome

Pop diva Celine Dion on Thursday tearfully revealed that she is suffering from Stiff-Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that is affecting her singing, and said she would have to cancel or postpone a series of European shows. In a five-minute video posted on Instagram in French and English, a clearly emotional Dion said she had been dealing with the health problems 'for a long time.' It has been causing spasms that 'affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I'm used to,' she said. Dion, who is 54, said she was supported by her children and a team of doctors working every day to improve her condition, but added: 'I have to admit, it's been a struggle.' That success was parlayed into a regular gig at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, where she had multiple long residencies. Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS) causes muscle stiffness as well as spasms, normally between the ages of 30 to 60. The symptoms can remain stable in some cases, but get progressively worse in others. If left untreated, SPS can potentially lead to difficulty walking and significantly impact a person's ability to perform routine daily tasks. 'All I know is singing, it's what I've done all my life and it's what I love to do the most,' said Dion, breaking into tears. Her spring dates in Europe, which were due to begin in the Czech Republic in February, have been postponed to 2024, while eight of her summer shows have been cancelled entirely. The 'Courage World Tour' began in 2019, and Dion had completed 52 shows before the Covid-19 pandemic put the remainder on hold. It was to be the Grammy winner's first global concert tour in a decade and the first without her husband-manager Rene Angelil, who died from cancer in 2016. Dion sounded a note of optimism at the end of her video message.

Pop diva Celine Dion reveals she is suffering from Stiff-Person Syndrome

"Recently I have been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called Stiff-Person Syndrome which affects something like one in a million people," Pop diva Celine Dion said in a statement on Thursday.