Celine Dion received a standing ovation at the premiere of her new film I Am: Celine Dion , which screened in New York earlier this week. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor, the documentary chronicles her battle with the rare neurological condition stiff-person syndrome. In an emotional speech, the “My Heart Will Go On” star said: “I cannot believe how fortunate I am to have my fans in my life.
“Thank you to all of you for being part of my journey. “This movie is my love letter to each of you. I hope to see you all again very, very soon.
” The 56-year-old added that her fans had been integral to her recovery, stating: “Your never-ending love and support over all these years has delivered me to this moment.” One of the world’s most successful musicians, Dion announced in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with the condition, prompting her to cancel tour dates and a Las Vegas residency. The new documentary shows the singer emotionally describing the impact the condition has had on her voice and attempting to sing.
“When I try to breathe, my lungs are fine; it’s what is in front of my lungs that’s so rigid, because of stiff-person syndrome,” she explains. “I can’t use my voice yet,” she says, starting to cry. “Music.
.. I miss it a lot.
But also, the people. I miss them.” The new documentary will air on Tuesday 25 June on Prime Video.
What is stiff-person syndrome? According to the US-based National Institute of Neurological Disord.