'I made a promise': Celine Dion moved to tears during Paris comeback concert

Celine Dion was brought to tears as she returned to the stage for the first time in almost six years after revealing she was battling a rare neurological disorder.

Performing in Paris on Saturday to a sold-out crowd of tens of thousands, an emotional Dion told her adoring fans that it was "amazing we are all together".

"I made a promise. I made a promise to come back and to be back on stage," she added.

"Here I am singing for you, and singing for me.

"Thank you so very much for your support, your patience. I am everything I am because you love me.

"The path was rocky, the road was longer ​than planned, but I held on."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney paid tribute to her return on social media by referencing one of her biggest hits.

"It's all coming back," Mr Carney wrote on X. "Congratulations on an incredible return to the stage after six long years."

The French-Canadian singer took a break from performing after revealing her stiff person syndrome (SPS) diagnosis in December 2022, which forced her to cancel a world tour.

SPS is a rare neurological disorder that causes progressive muscular stiffness and spasms. According to the NHS, there is currently no cure for the autoimmune disease.

The five-time Grammy winner's long-awaited comeback was revealed on her birthday on 30 March, when she posted on social media, expressing her excitement in a video message.

Dion extended her residency at the La Defense Arena to 16 concerts due to popular demand, with further shows taking place until 14 October, and a further 10 dates in 2027. She will perform her biggest hits in both French and English during the concerts.

Fans were also quick to praise Dion over her health issues, with British fan Catherine Rushforth telling Reuters as she was leaving the arena: "She didn't shy ‌away from what she suffered, and she shared it with her audience."

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The 58-year-old previously cancelled her Las Vegas residency due to health concerns in 2021, revealing her SPS diagnosis the following year.

During her break from performing, Dion had a brief cameo singing in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024 and had repeatedly expressed her desire to return to the stage.

(c) Sky News 2026: 'I made a promise': Celine Dion moved to tears during Paris comeback concert