I AM: CELINE DION Offers an Intimate Look at the Iconic Singer’s Life and Career
Directed by Oscar-nominated director Irene Taylor, “I Am: Celine Dion” takes viewers on a journey inside the life of Celine Dion as she reveals her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome. The Amazon MGM Studios screening of the documentary was held at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 17.
Celine Dion made a grand entrance, wearing a pearlescent silk blouse and a matching floor-length skirt. As she moved from one journalist to another, greeting influencers and fans, the heart of every spectator skipped a beat. Her presence added a special luster to the atmosphere, reminiscent of recent auroras.
The concert hall at Lincoln Center was filled with VIP guests, and the media personalities lining the red carpet were equally as starstruck as longtime followers. Fans even had the opportunity to share a moment with the singer; I too seized the opportunity to break the journalistic ‘fourth wall’ to give Celine her flowers.
Just a week before the New York special event screening, Celine Dion sat down for an exclusive interview with American broadcaster and journalist Hoda Kotb. The interview aired on NBC on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. During the interview, they discussed the challenges Dion has faced over the last 17 years due to a rare neurological disease known as Stiff Person Syndrome. The disease initially presented as throat spasms, which Dion experienced during her 2008 Taking Chances World Tour in Germany.
The symptoms that started as something symptomatic of a common cold evolved into a medical mystery for Dion. She searched for answers while her voice continued to waver over the next few years. To compensate, Dion changed her songs and lowered the key for live performances. Meanwhile, she kept her illness hidden from the public. Unfortunately, during this time, her husband of 20 years, René Angélil, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2016. Tragically, just two days after Angélil’s death, Dion’s brother Daniel Dion also passed away in a palliative care residence outside of Montreal.
Despite facing devastating losses in her personal life, Céline Dion showed incredible resilience and determination in continuing her music career. In 2016, just a few weeks after the death of her husband René Angélil, Dion returned to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. A decision demonstrating her unwavering commitment to her fans and her passion for performing.
Similarly, in early 2020, Dion faced another heartbreaking loss with the death of her mother, Thérèse Tanguay-Dion. Despite this immense grief, she did not let it keep her away from show business. After the memorial service, Dion continued with her touring schedule for the North American leg of the Courage World Tour.
However, fate had other plans, and the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States forced Dion to postpone her shows due to the pandemic. This unexpected turn of events brought her (and her devotion to work) to an involuntary standstill. During this period, Dion took the opportunity to focus more on her health and private life.
It was during this time of reflection and self-care that Dion received her diagnosis of Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS) from her neurologist, Dr. Amanda Piquet. This rare autoimmune neurological disorder causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that can worsen over time. The diagnosis forced Dion to reevaluate her touring plans and ultimately led to the cancellation of her postponed performances.
Dion had a residency planned for the fall of 2021 at Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, when the unforeseen medical symptoms forced her to delay the opening and cancel the scheduled performances. In 2022, she openly shared on social media that she had been battling SPS. Then A sudden and