Celine Dion made a poignant return to the public eye after a hiatus of three and a half years due to her battle with Moersch-Woltman syndrome, a neurological disorder. The Grammy-winning singer, who last performed publicly in 2020 before pausing her world tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed her diagnosis in December 2022.
The disorder, also known as stiff person syndrome, causes rigidity in the torso and limbs and is characterized by muscle spasms. It severely affected Dion's ability to sing and perform. After canceling her European tour due to the condition's impact on her mobility and vocal cords, Dion resurfaced at a Montreal Canadiens ice hockey game, surprising fans
Chantal Machabée, Montreal’s vice-president of hockey communications, shared that Dion "sang a few notes" during her visit to her hometown team alongside her sons. Machabée described the moment as "incredible" and praised Dion's resilience.
While Dion's battle with the disorder has kept her largely out of the spotlight, her sister Claudette spoke about her struggles and their hope for a remedy. Stiff person syndrome is an autoimmune and neurological disorder, more prevalent in women, and it is associated with other autoimmune diseases. Researchers are still investigating its causes.
