(CMR) Céline Dion has announced that she is postponing several Europe tour dates after the recent diagnosis of a rare neurological disorder that doesn’t allow her “to sing the way she's used to.”
Dion (54) said she has been dealing with the rare neurological disorder stiff-person syndrome for some time.
“Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk, and not allowing me to use my vocal chords to sing the way I'm used to,” she said on Thursday.
According to her website, eight summer 2023 shows on her Courage tour have been canceled, with several that had been due to take place in the spring rescheduled for 2024. Some of the European dates had already been pushed back from 2022.
“I have to admit, it's been a struggle. All I know is singing, it's what I've done all my life,” she said.
The Resorts World Las Vegas had hoped she could begin her planned residency at that 3,500-seat venue sometime in 2023; however, this will also have to wait as the singer cope with her health challenges.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease. SPS is characterized by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms.
Specific treatments will improve the symptoms but will not cure the disorder.
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