Céline Dion has sparked fresh concern over her long-awaited return to performing after losing her balance on stage and forgetting the words to one of her best-known songs during an emotional concert in Paris.
Céline Dion has sparked fresh concern over her long-awaited return to performing after losing her balance on stage and forgetting the words to one of her best-known songs during an emotional concert in Paris
The Canadian superstar, 58, was performing her 11th comeback concert at the Paris La Défense Arena on Wednesday (07.10.26) when the incidents occurred, according to footage circulated on Instagram and a report by French newspaper Le Parisien.
Céline returned to live performances last month after years of treatment for stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that forced her to cancel touring commitments and left her struggling with painful muscle spasms and difficulties controlling her singing voice.
During a performance of Pour que tu m’aimes encore, Céline became visibly emotional as the audience joined in with the French-language ballad.
She told the crowd: “I understood all the words, I understood perfectly, thank you.”
Moments later, the singer paused, covered her face with her hands and acknowledged that she had lost her place in the song.
She said: “I’m forgetting my words.”
Audience members helped her continue before she recovered and thanked them for their support.
She added: “Thank goodness you’re here, I’m sorry.”
According to Le Parisien, Céline also lost her balance while performing Un autre monde, although she quickly recovered and gave the audience a thumbs-up.
The incidents have attracted attention because of the singer’s continuing treatment for stiff-person syndrome, although no medical explanation has been established for either episode.
The singer is undertaking a five-week residency in the French capital, with 16 performances scheduled for autumn 2026 and a further 10 dates planned for May 2027.
Her return follows years of uncertainty about whether she would be able to perform again after publicly revealing her diagnosis in December 2022.
Stiff-person syndrome affects the nervous system and can cause severe muscle stiffness, spasms and difficulties with movement. Céline has previously described how the condition affected her ability to walk and sing.
The singer, whose international hits include My Heart Will Go On, The Power of Love, Because You Loved Me and It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, documented her experiences in the 2024 film I Am: Céline Dion.
The documentary showed the physical and emotional impact of her illness, including an episode of severe muscle spasms during treatment.
Céline’s comeback began on 12 September, when she returned to the stage in Paris after a six-year absence from full concerts.
Following her opening performance of On ne change pas, she addressed the audience about the difficult journey back to live music.
She said: “I had promised myself not to cry. Here we are… I’m standing on stage in this city that I love so much, thanks to your support and your love.”
She added: “I have to admit, though, that the road was rocky. The journey was longer than expected, with unplanned stops along the way.”
The singer had previously promised to perform again despite the severity of her condition, and made a widely celebrated appearance at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Her performance of Hymne à l’amour from the Eiffel Tower marked her first major public musical appearance following her diagnosis.
Céline has since undertaken an intensive rehabilitation programme involving medication, physical therapy, vocal exercises and immunotherapy.
Her Paris performances have also featured a personal tribute to her late husband and former manager René Angélil, who died in 2016.
