Celine Dion absolutely shocked the 2024 Grammy audience on Sunday when she made a surprise appearance after being diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS) in December 2022.
The 55-year-old singer, whose rare neurological disease forced her to cancel the remaining tour dates last year, walked onto the stage to a standing ovation.
“When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart,” Dion said as she thanked the audience, calling the reception “beautiful.”
Celine Dion makes a surprise appearance to present Album of the Year at the 2024 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/oNT4zmBTyk
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
“Those who have been blessed enough to be here at the Grammy Awards must never take for granted the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world,” she added. “And now it gives me great joy to present a Grammy Award that two legends, Diana Ross and Sting, presented to me twenty-seven years ago.”
The singer then listed the nominees for Album of the Year and announced the winner was Taylor Swift for her “Midnights” album.
Last year, Dion’s sister, Claudette Dion, spoke to Hello! Canada about Celine’s SPS diagnosis.
“She’s doing everything to recover,” Claudette said. “She’s a strong woman.”
“It’s an illness we know so little about,” she added. “There are spasms – they’re impossible to control. You know [how] people often jump up in the night because of a cramp in the leg or the calf? It’s a bit like that, but in all muscles. There’s little we can do to support her, to alleviate her pain.”
“We’re crossing our fingers that researchers will find a remedy for this awful illness,” Claudette continued. “And she knows fans feel the same way, too.”
In 2022, the “All By Myself” singer and mother of three revealed her diagnosis after canceling several of her concerts.
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“Hello, everyone,” Dion said. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reach out to you. I miss you all so much and can’t wait to be on stage talking to you in person. As you know I’ve always been an open book and I wasn’t ready to say anything before but I’m ready now.”
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time and it’s been really difficult for me to face my challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” she added.
“Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff-person syndrome which affects one in a million people.”
SPS has been described as a progressive disease that leaves its victims as “human statues” who cannot walk or talk, according to the Daily Mail.
Related: ‘I’m Not Giving Up’: Celine Dion Cancels Entire World Tour Amid Disorder Battle