Céline Dion just brought the world to tears as she took the stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony to perform.
The musician, 56, sang “Hymne à L’amour” from atop the Eiffel Tower in front of the world on July 26 as part of her comeback following her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome.
For her appearance, Dion wore a custom long-sleeved Dior gown made of “thousands of pearls and more than 500 meters of fringing,” according to a press release. She accessorized with dazzling jewels, including dangling earrings to add even more sparkle.
She wore her hair pulled back in a low bun and rocked a bold smoky eye look with a nude lip.
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IOC via Getty
Everyone was aflutter when Dion was photographed in Paris on July 23 greeting fans, as they were hopeful that the Olympics would be her big return to the stage since her diagnosis.
Dion was seen smiling as she waved to fans and signed autographs at her hotel in the City of Light — hours after Variety reported she would perform during the games. Around the same time, TMZ reported the Grammy-winning singer would take the stage during the opening ceremony and receive a $2 million paycheck for one song.
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NBC Sports
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Dion has been making more and more public appearances as she eases back into her working life — and she has brought her signature (and effortless) glam into all of them. In June, she showed up in Las Vegas to announce the Montreal Canadiens’ fifth-round draft pick. She wore a monochromatic look with a midi-length skirt and complementary button-down shirt. She capped off the look with matching heels.
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Bruce Bennett/Getty
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In an April interview with Vogue France, Dion got candid about when she may sing live again. “I can’t answer that… Because for four years I’ve been saying to myself that I’m not going back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready,” she told the outlet. “As things stand, I can’t stand here and say to you: ‘Yes, in four months.’ I don’t know… My body will tell me. On the other hand, I don’t just want to wait.”
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Cindy Ord/Getty
Dion continued, “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, and that’s the will. It’s the passion. It’s the dream. It’s the determination.”
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. And sign up for Going for Gold, our Olympics newsletter, to get the biggest stories from the Games delivered straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, beginning July 26, on NBC and Peacock.
