Celine Dion Opens Up About Stiff Person Syndrome in Emotional Documentary Trailer

Celine Dion breaks down in tears as she opens up about the challenges she has faced after being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome (SPS) in a new trailer for her upcoming documentary, “I Am Celine Dion.”

Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor, the documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Canadian singer’s life since her diagnosis with the rare neurological condition and the lengths she has gone to to continue performing.

The 56-year-old cancelled her Las Vegas residency in 2021 due to health concerns before revealing her SPS diagnosis in December 2022 and subsequently cancelling her Courage World Tour.

The trailer opens with a clip of Dion singing a high note before her voiceover says, “My voice is the conductor of my life. When your voice brings you joy, you’re the best of yourself. I need my instrument.”

It then cuts to an emergency call being made before Dion, sitting in a chair, says, “I’ve been diagnosed with a sporadic neurological disorder, and I wasn’t ready to say anything before, but I’m ready now.”

The teaser features video snippets of Dion commanding the stage and recording in the studio as she reflects on her career. “It’s not hard to do a show, you know. It’s hard to cancel a show,” she says in the two-minute trailer. “I’m working hard every day, but I must admit, it’s been a struggle.”

A tearful Dion adds, “I miss it so much. The people, I miss them. If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. I won’t stop.”

The Prime Video documentary is billed as a “love letter to her fans,” highlighting “the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.”

The superstar, known for hits like “My Heart Will Go On,” “Think Twice,” and “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now,” has sold more than 250 million albums during her 40-year career. Dion also earned five Grammys, two Oscars, and the Billboard Music Lifetime Achievement Icon Award.

In a recent Vogue France cover story, she addressed the possibility of returning to complete her world tour. “For four years, I’ve been saying to myself that I’m not going back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready… As things stand, I can’t stand here and say to you, ‘Yes, in four months’,” Dion told the magazine. “I don’t know… My body will tell me. On the other hand, I don’t just want to wait. It’s morally hard to live from day to day.”

“It’s hard. I’m working very hard, and tomorrow will be even harder. Tomorrow is another day. But there’s one thing that will never stop: the will. It’s the passion. It’s the dream. It’s the determination,” she added.

The main symptoms of SPS are muscle stiffening and spasming. While there is no cure, treatments include muscle sedatives, relaxants, and physical and occupational therapy.

“I Am: Celine Dion” will stream globally on Prime Video on June 25.