Céline Dion walked out of the 2024 Grammy Awards due to her ongoing health issues.
The pop icon, 55, made a rare public appearance at the 66th Grammy Awards to present the final award of the night. Dion graced the stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to present Album of the Year — an award she first won 27 years ago.
The five-time Grammy winner, who was diagnosed with the rare and incurable neurological disorder Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022, received a standing ovation from the star-studded audience.
“Thank you all, I love you back. When I say I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from the bottom of my heart,” she said. Before announcing the nominees, Dion told the audience to “never take for granted” the joy that music brings. The award was then given to Taylor Swift.
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Céline Dion presents at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
CBS
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Dion has been a favorite of the Recording Academy for decades. The Canadian star is a five-time Grammy winner – she took home her first record player in 1992 – and a total of 16 nominees.
Dion’s appearance at the awards show marked her first public appearance since attending a Las Vegas hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens last November. The sporting event marked her first public appearance in three and a half years.
Although it was a rarity for the music legend, she took the opportunity to perform.
The “My Heart Will Go On” singer first revealed to fans that she was suffering from a rare neurological disease that can cause debilitating muscle spasms in late 2022. She then shared what she was going through in a touching video posted to Instagram in late 2022 where she explained condition and that this means they will have to postpone their tour dates.
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Céline Dion at the 66th GRAMMY Awards at the Crypto.com Arena.
Neilson Barnard/Getty
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According to the Stiff Person Syndrome Foundation, the condition affects the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. “Patients can be disabled, confined to a wheelchair or bed, unable to work and care for themselves,” they say, adding that neurological disease with autoimmune features can include symptoms such as “hyperrigidity, debilitating pain, chronic anxiety,” and seizures. muscles “so strong they can dislocate joints and even break bones.”
With the singer having to make the difficult decision to cancel her tour dates for the foreseeable future in May 2023, she has revealed she will be sharing an intimate documentary with fans about her recent challenges. Project named I am: Celine Dion will be directed by Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Irene Taylor, and will be released on Amazon Prime Video later this year.
In September, the superstar’s sister Claudette shared an update on her sister’s health in an interview with Hello! Canada. “He is doing everything to recover,” she told the newspaper. “She is a strong woman.”
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Watch PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 66th Grammy Awards as it airs live on CBS from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
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Source: HIS Education