Celine Dion reportedly plans Paris comeback with autumn concerts
This handout released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services, shows a view of singer Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Screengrab by IOC
PARIS - Celine Dion is poised for a return to the Paris stage, with plans underway for a series of autumn concerts at La Défense Arena, according to a person familiar with the preparation, talking with the Associated Press.
What they're saying:
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closely guarded preparations, and did not give details.
The other side:
Representatives for Dion in the United States did not immediately respond to questions.
Dig deeper:
The concerts in the City of Light will come after Dion electrified the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where she performed Edith Piaf’s "Hymne à L'Amour" ("Hymn to Love") from the Eiffel Tower — beside a rain-soaked piano.
Mysterious posters recently affixed to lampposts around the city were emblazoned with the titles of some of her iconic songs: "Pour Que Tu M’aimes Encore" ("So That You Love Me Again"), and, in English, "Power of Love." And the French-Canadian pop star posted a series of photos on Instagram of her in Paris at various times in her life — as a youngster and more recent high-fashion shots.
Big picture view:
The La Defense Arena has a capacity of 40,000 spectators and was one of the venues used for the Olympics.
The backstory:
In 2022, Dion was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare disorder that causes muscle rigidity and spasms, affecting her ability to walk and sing. She had been absent from the stage since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of her tour, which was then suspended in the wake of her neurological disorder diagnosis.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story primarily comes from a person involved in planning the concerts who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. This story was reported from Los Angeles.