Céline Dion Tears Up Seconds into Her First Full Concert in Over 6 Years: ‘I Made a Promise to Come Back’

Bailey Richards, Emily StrohmSat, September 12, 2026 at 11:33 PM UTC

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Céline Dion tears up during opening night of her residency in Paris on Sept. 12, 2026Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage -

Céline Dion returned to the stage for her first full concert in over six years on Sept. 12, kicking off her 26-show Paris residency

She became emotional seconds into the opening song at Plenitude Arena, momentarily stopping to wipe tears from her eyes

Dion also spoke to fans about her “promise” to return to stage following her 2022 stiff-person syndrome diagnosis

Céline Dion‘s return to the stage was an emotional one.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, the singer, 58, returned to the stage for her first full concert in over six years after her career as a live performer was sidelined first by the COVID-19 pandemic and then by her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis.

Dion began opening night of her 26-show residency at Plenitude Arena (formerly the Paris La Défense Arena) in Nanterre, France, with her 1998 song “On Ne Change Pas” on Saturday, stopping seconds into the track after becoming visibly choked up.

The “My Heart Will Go On” singer took a beat moments after she began singing the opening track, appearing to wipe tears. She could also be seen putting a hand to her chest and putting her hands together, seemingly in a gesture expressing gratitude to her fans.

Céline Dion during opening night of her residency in Paris on Sept. 12, 2026Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

After the tearful moment passed, Dion finished performing the song before moving on to another ’90s track, “Destin,” and then taking a moment to address fans.

Dion spoke to the crowd in French and then English, telling fans, “There are many of you here tonight from all over the world. Thank you so very much for coming. If it’s your first time in Paris. I hope you fall in love with it, just like I did. Finally, it’s amazing we are all together.”

“I made a promise. I made a promise to come back, to be back on stage,” Dion continued. “So here I am, singing for you and singing for me, singing life!”

“Thank you so very much for your support, your patience and if I may say so: I am everything I am because you loved me,” the musician then said, quoting her hit 1996 song, “Because You Loved Me,” which she then segued into.

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Dion’s last full concert took place in March 2020, across the ocean at New Jersey’s Prudential Center. After the show, the remainder of the tour was halted by the onset of the COVID-19, and the rescheduled shows were later canceled due to health complications related to Dion’s stiff-person syndrome diagnosis.

Celine Dion sings during the first show of her Paris residency on Sept. 12, 2026Credit: Thomas SAMSON / AFP via Getty

In 2022, Dion was diagnosed with the rare and progressive autoimmune and neurological disorder — which can cause muscle rigidity, mobility issues, painful spasms and shortness of breath.

The singer has taken the stage since her diagnosis — first at the base of the Eiffel Tower at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony and later that year at the 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab fashion show in Saudi Arabia — but Saturday’s show marked her first full concert back.

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In a Harper’s BAZAAR cover story published in August, Dion revealed that to prepare for her Paris shows, she has been taking new medication, doing physical and vocal therapy and immunotherapy. She has also been doing Pilates sessions three times a week, as well as ballet classes, she told the outlet.

In the same interview, Dion told Harper’s BAZAAR that the shows are her way of showing gratitude to her devoted fanbase.

“It’s been so long, I would like to offer them something to show how I’ve missed them,” she said.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”