Celine Dion Gives Harrowing Update About Stiff-Person Syndrome Battle

Celine Dion has updated fans on how stiff-person syndrome has impacted her daily life in a revealing interview with Hoda Kotb.

The interview, set to air on June 11, shows Dion explaining the physical constraints of her condition, describing it as feeling "like somebody's strangling you." She demonstrated the sensation by pressing on her throat and explained that it affects her ability to modulate her voice, making her speak in a restricted tone.

Dion detailed the muscle spasms she experiences, which can affect her abdomen, spine, and ribs, often leaving her muscles locked in place. "It feels like if I point my feet, it will stay in [that position]," she shared. She also mentioned that her condition sometimes leads to broken ribs due to severe spasms.

Kotb discussed the singer's health on the May 23 episode of Today With Hoda and Jenna, revealing that at one point, Dion's condition was life-threatening. "Celine Dion at some point, she is now much better, but at some point, she almost died," Kotb revealed, emphasizing the seriousness of the "My Heart Will Go On" singer's struggle. Despite these challenges, Kotb noted that Dion's spirit remains resilient, and she even sang during the interview, sounding "incredible" despite her hesitation. Dion last performed in 2019.

The 56-year-old will reveal more about her personal journey with stiff person syndrome in her upcoming documentary, I Am: Celine Dion. The film, whose trailer was also released on May 23, chronicles the 6-time Grammy winner's fight against this rare neurological disorder as she strives to return to the stage. In the trailer, Dion emotionally states, "If I can't run, I'll walk. If I can't walk, I'll crawl. But I won't stop," determined to reconnect with her fans. She first revealed her diagnosis in a 2022 Instagram video, which explained her rescheduled and canceled tour dates.