Céline Dion announced that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder, in 2022, saying that she had been dealing with health issues for some time. In May 2023, Céline shared that she needed to cancel her tour, which was scheduled to run for several months in 2023 and 2024. In a recent interview with Le Journal de Montréal, the singer's sister, Claudette, also provided an update.
Claudette shared that their sister Linda has moved in with Céline.
"When I call [Céline] and she's busy, I speak to my sister Linda who lives with her and tells me that she's working hard," Claudette shared. "She's listening to the top researchers in the field of this rare disease as much as possible."
Stiff person syndrome causes painful muscle spasms and stiffness. The symptoms can make walking difficult and can also lead to injuries. There is no cure for the rare condition, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, but symptoms can be managed with the help of medication and other therapies. The condition affects about one in a million people, according to Cleveland Clinic.
On May 26, Céline announced the cancelation of the Courage World Tour on Instagram. "I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again," she wrote in her post. "I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%. It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again. I want you all to know, I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!"
Claudette shared that it was necessary for Céline to cancel the tour, adding that her sister often pushes herself to be the best she can be, but right now, she really needs to rest.
"I honestly think that she mostly needs to rest. She always goes above and beyond, she always tries to be the best and top of her game. At one point, your heart and your body are trying to tell you something. It's important to listen to it,” Claudette said.
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Claudette added that the family is hopeful that they will find treatment that helps Céline manage her symptoms better.
"It's innate to her, she's disciplined in every area of her life… We can't find any medicine that works, but having hope is important," Claudette said.
