Céline Dion tearfully returns to the stage after 6 years

Céline Dion made her long-awaited return to the stage for the first time in six years as she continues navigating life with stiff-person syndrome – and the moment wasn't short of tears and emotion.

In the first of a series of concerts at Paris La Défense Arena in the city's Nanterre suburb, the 58-year-old singer tearfully celebrated being in front of a crowd once more on Saturday, Sept. 12.

"I’m standing on stage in this city I love so much thanks to your support and your love," she told the audience. "The path was rocky, the road was longer than planned, but I held on."

Dion's residency in the City of Love marks the pop star's first full concert experience since she took the stage at New Jersey’s Prudential Center back in March 2020 as part of her Courage World Tour.

The "Because You Loved Me" powerhouse announced in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes muscle spasms and rendered her unable to perform. The five-time Grammy winner laid bare what life with the condition is like in her 2024 documentary "I Am: Celine Dion."

Dion, who mostly spoke French throughout the…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/