Céline Dion Releases New Music 4 Months After Announcing Incurable Health Diagnosis | “Hope People Like It”

Celine Dion is not letting her health battle stop her from doing what she loves most just yet: singing. Amid her battle with stiff-person syndrome, the singer is making her acting debut and has also contributed five new songs to the upcoming rom-com. The vocal powerhouse is debuting new music with a new single, Love Again, the title track to the forthcoming film of the same name starring, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan. “Mark your calendars, on May 5, the movie hits theatres and on May 12, the full album, featuring 5 new Celine songs, will be available,” the caption on the Instagram video she posted read. 

"I had a lot of fun doing this movie," the five-time Grammy winner said in a press release. "And to have the privilege of appearing with the beautiful and talented actors, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan, in my very first feature film is a gift that I will cherish forever. I think it's a wonderful feel-good story, and I hope that people will like it, and like the new songs too." This is the Canadian singer's first new music project since 2019 when she released her 27th studio album, Courage.

The My Heart Will Go On singer is leaning on the love of her fans and family as she battles her health crisis. She shares René-Charles, 22, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 12 with late husband René Angélil. 

Back in December 2022, the 55-year-old revealed her incurable neurological disease diagnosis, which affects about only one of every one million people. In an emotional Instagram video she said she had to postpone and cancel a series of upcoming concert dates at the time.

"I've always been an open book and I wasn't ready to say anything before, but I'm ready now," the singer said in the video, her voice and eyes brimming with emotion. “While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having. Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to,” she added.

Stiff-person syndrome is “a rare, progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord,” according to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. Symptoms may include extreme muscle stiffness, rigidity, and painful spasms in the trunk and limbs, severely impairing mobility. 

"All I know is singing," she pointed out. "It's what I've done all my life, and it's what I love to do the most. I miss you so much. I miss seeing all of you. Being on the stage, performing for you. I always give 100 percent when I do my shows. But my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now," she said. The singer said she needed to focus on her health "and I have hope that I'm on the road to recovery. This is my focus, and I'm doing everything that I can to recuperate."

References:

https://www.instagram.com/celinedion/

https://www.eonline.com/news/1371284/celine-dion-releases-new-music-4-months-after-announcing-health-diagnosis

https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/5023/stiff-person-syndrome

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Andreas Rentz