Celine Dion beams in rare outing amid battle with stiff person syndrome

10 March 2024 , 19:23

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Celine Dion shows positive display in rare sighting as she continues health battle with stiff person syndrome

Celine Dion has been seen in a rare appearance in New York City as she appeared positive and gave fans a thumbs up.

The sighting of the star comes as she's publicly withdrawn after her diagnosis in 2022 with a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), which causes muscle spasms and stiffness throughout the body and affects the nervous system. SPS is considered a progressive disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord.

Spotted in New York, the 55-year-old star was dressed in a black jacket, jeans and boots as she headed towards a black SUV. Despite her ongoing health struggle she appeared in a good mood and smiled towards cameras before giving photographers and fans a thumbs up as she climbed into her waiting vehicle.

READ MORE: Celine Dion makes rare appearance at 2024 Grammy Awards as Taylor Swift 'snubs' her

Celine Dion has been seen in a rare sighting in New York City (Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com)

The singer gave fans and photographers a smile and a thumbs up as she appeared in a positive mood (Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com)

Celine has struggled with the disease for quite some time, and in 2021, was forced to postpone her Las Vegas residency to focus on her health. Just one year later, she announced her diagnosis, and cancelled all of her world tour dates for 2023 and 2024. The My Heart Will Go On singer announced she was taking time off from performing and would be postponing all her shows after she revealed the diagnosis publicly to fans, and has explained her 'heartbreak' at being kept away from performing.

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Earlier this year she announced she was taking part in a new Amazon Prime documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, and she remained optimistic that she would be back on stage once again. Writing on Instagram, she told fans: "This last couple of years has been such a challenge for me, the journey from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not to let it define me."

The singer went public with her diagnosis in 2022 as she revealed she suffers with a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) (Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com)

Having Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) has forced Celine to stop performing, including her Las Vegas residency and her world tour in 2023 and 2024 (Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com)

She added: "As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realised how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans." In her post she also revealed that she hoped that the documentary would "raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis."

Last month Celine was sighted in a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards to present the award for Album of the Year. The star received a standing ovation as she told the crowd to remember "the joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world."

She announced the winner as Taylor Swift - who made history as the first ever artist to win the award four times. However fans of Celine were left fuming as they believed the Shake It Off singer 'snubbed' Celine as she appeared to bypass her as she collected her award onstage.

Niamh Spence