Today gave us a glance into Céline Dion’s first broadcast interview since 2022, where the “My Heart Will Go On” singer opens up to Hoda Kotb about the reality of her rare condition, stiff person syndrome.
In 2022, the Canadian star revealed that she was diagnosed with a progressive and chronic neurological condition that causes stiffness and produces intense muscle spasms, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Shortly after, she canceled all future tour dates.
In the June 7th episode of Today, a clip from the upcoming primetime special was shared, where Dion, 56, revealed that when she sings “it’s like somebody is strangling” her.
Céline Dion Reveals That Singing With Stiff Person Syndrome Leads To Throat Spasms
“It’s like somebody is pushing your larynx/pharynx this way,” Dion said while laying her hands on her throat. The star detailed that this makes it hard for her to control the pitch and tone of her voice, and leads to throat spasms.
The “I Love You” hitmaker told Vogue France on May 23rd that her symptoms began on her tour in 2008. The singer told Kotb, 59, that it only affected her throat first and she thought “OK, that’s going to be fine.”
However, the nature of her condition is chronic and fast-moving, meaning that the muscle spasms and stiffness quickly traveled to her hands. Dion told Kotb that the symptoms now are in her abdomen, back, ribs and down through her appendages.
“If I cook – because I love to cook – my fingers, my hands, will get [stuck] in a position,” the six-time Grammy winner detailed.
The severity of these spasms became even more apparent when Dion revealed in the interview that some of her intense spasms had broken her ribs in the past.
Céline Dion Opens Up To Hoda Kotb Just Weeks Before Amazon Prime Documentary Release
On the May 23rd episode of Today, Kotb shared another snippet from the one-on-one, revealing that Dion "almost died" because of the condition, which has no cure.
"She was diagnosed with a terrible disease and, at one point, she wondered if she was going to make it, whether she was going to live through it," Kotb said during the broadcast.
In the comments of the interview preview shared by Today on Instagram, fans flooded the comments with their love and blessings.
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"Broken ribs… my god. That's such a scary disease," one commenter said.
"So sad. She has such a beautiful gift," another commenter added. "God Bless you Celine. Many prayers for strength and healing."
Finally, a commenter said "Keep Fighting ! While there is breath, there is hope."
Dion told Vogue France that she is currently undergoing "athletic, physical and vocal therapy" five days a week to ease symptoms.
The full interview between Kotb and Dion will air on June 11th at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, just weeks before the artist's documentary I Am: Céline Dion is available to the public.
In the trailer for the film, Dion shares her desire to return to the spotlight.
"The people, I miss them," Dion said in the film preview, arriving on Prime Video on June 25th. “If I can't run, I'll walk. If I can't walk, I'll crawl."
"I won't stop. I won't stop."
