The renowned songstress had to step back from her touring and performing commitments in late 2022 after disclosing her diagnosis of the rare condition known as Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), which affects the central nervous system.
Fans who have expressed concerns about Céline Dion’s health amid her ongoing battle against Stiff Person Syndrome will now have an opportunity to gain insight into her struggles through a new documentary.
The Grammy-winning singer announced that she will be shedding light on her journey in a documentary titled “I Am: Céline Dion,” set to debut on Amazon’s Prime Video.
“These last couple of years have been such a challenge for me, from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not letting it define me,” Dion stated in a release on Tuesday.
“As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realized how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans,” she continued. “During this absence, I decided I wanted to document this part of my life, to try to raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis.”
In December 2022, Dion first shared her diagnosis in an emotional video on Instagram, revealing she would be postponing her Courage World Tour due to uncontrollable spasms, ultimately canceling the tour.
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having,” she told her fans. “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk, and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
The Stiff Person Syndrome Foundation notes that the condition affects the central nervous system, often leaving those who suffer from it “disabled, wheelchair-bound, or bed-ridden.”
The synopsis for Dion’s new documentary states that the film “takes viewers on a journey inside Céline’s past and present as she reveals her battle with stiff-person syndrome (SPS) and the lengths she has gone to continue performing for her beloved and loyal fans.”
“From visiting her couture touring wardrobe and personal effects to spending time in the recording studio, the documentary captures a global megastar’s never-before-seen private life,” the synopsis continues. “An emotional, energetic, and poetic love letter to music, ‘I Am: Céline Dion’ captures more than a year of filming as the legendary singer navigates her journey toward living an open and authentic life amidst illness.”
As reported by Us Weekly, while SPS has prevented Dion from touring and performing live, it hasn’t hindered her overall career. Not only did she make her feature film debut in the rom-com Love Again, but she also contributed five songs to its soundtrack.
