Céline Dion’s Sister Living With Her As Health Struggles Continue To Upend Singer’s Career

Sep 15, 2023

Céline Dion is a pinnacle name when it comes to the music industry. Her unique vocal tone and impressive singing abilities catapulted her into a lifetime of fame and success, with a career spanning four decades. 

Céline’s discography has shown the trials and tribulations of relationships, from the most beautiful love stories to the hardest moments of heartbreak. Facing some hardships herself, Céline has been able to immerse herself into her work and showcase genuineness through her lyrics and melodies. She had opened up to the public about her fertility challenges and was later blessed with three sons with her late husband, René Angélil. 

However, the entertainer faced one of the most devastating heartaches she ever had to deal with when Angélil, to whom she had been married for 22 years, died in 2016.

The heartbreak Céline had to face when she lost her husband is something the singer has been struggling with since. Being in the spotlight for such a long period of time is sure to be taxing on anyone, especially someone who is already facing such hardship. Fans grew concerned for the star years back when she started losing weight, her powerful voice being overtaken by her small frame.

The singer has been dealing with health complications for some time now and had to cancel her upcoming events following a heartbreaking announcement. Céline shared the news that she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease called stiff-person syndrome. 

With Céline’s health condition, fans around the world have been sending love and support to her in these very trying times. Read on to find out how those closest to her have banded together to support her during this difficult time.

Céline was born on March 30, 1968, in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada, into a large family. She was the youngest of 14 children, and her parents were both of French-Canadian descent. Growing up, she was constantly surrounded by music and people who loved the arts. So, it came as no surprise when she wanted to pursue singing as a career. 

In August 1973, Céline made her first appearance as a performer at her brother Michel Dion’s wedding. She continued to work on her talent throughout her childhood and later wrote and composed her first song when she was 12 years old. Michel then sent the recording to Angélil, a music manager who would later become Céline’s husband. Swept away by the young girl’s abilities, Angélil funded her first record and took her on as a client. “La voix du bon Dieu” later became a No. 1 hit in Quebec, helping Céline launch herself into stardom.

In 1993, she announced her feelings for Angélil, who was still working as her manager, in the dedication section of her album “The Colour of My Love.” Fans embraced the relationship, as Céline appeared to be happy and very much in love with Angélil. The couple married on Dec. 17, 1994, and the ceremony was broadcast on live Canadian television.

Céline’s career took off to a new level, and her fame and success throughout the 1990s propelled her forward. “Let’s Talk About Love” helped solidify Céline’s spot as an international star. It broke records across the world and earned the singer worldwide success. That album spanned one of the most well-known and recognized love songs of all time, “My Heart Will Go On,” featured in the record-breaking blockbuster “Titanic.” It became one of the most recognizable songs of Céline’s career and earned her numerous awards, including a Grammy.

Over the course of her life, Céline faced several hardships. Having been in the spotlight for many decades now, Céline has grown accustomed to constant feedback and criticism and has learned to understand that it’s all part of the job. “If you don’t want to be criticized, you are in the wrong place,” she once said.

The acclaimed singer has been very candid about her struggles through music and interviews, sharing some of the heartaches she’s endured. After reaching new heights in the 1990s, Céline took time off to focus on her personal life. Her husband had been suffering some serious health issues and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 1999, from which he recovered after treatment.

Finally having time to themselves, Céline and Angélil were ready to start their own family together. Céline underwent fertility treatments and gave birth to her first child, Rene-Charles Dion Angélil, on Jan. 25, 2001. The couple also welcomed twins Eddy and Nelson Angélil, on Oct. 23, 2010. 

With a longtime marriage, a budding family and an ever-evolving career, it seemed like nothing could break Céline. However, her world came crashing down when Angélil faced yet another cancer scare. He had surgery in December 2013 for his throat cancer and stepped down as Céline’s manager six months later. He passed away on Jan. 14, 2016, from throat cancer, just two days before his 74th birthday.

Céline stayed strong as she grieved the loss of her husband but started to look thin and frail. She attributed the weight loss to a newfound passion for ballet. However, the media continued to speculate about her health condition and in December 2022, Céline made a heartbreaking announcement revealing she had been diagnosed with a rare and debilitating disease.

Céline initially announced the postponement of her upcoming tour due to her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome on Dec. 8, 2022.

“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” Céline said in an Instagram video.

However, Céline hasn’t let her health challenges stop her from working completely, as she released a new song just months later. The new song, titled "Love Again," is also the title of a movie starring Céline, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan.

Céline shared the news of her new song on her Instagram account on April 13, 2023, and also gave her followers a peek at the movie with some clips. The ballad is one of five songs by the Grammy-winning artist that was included on the film's soundtrack, alongside her other hits like "It’s All Coming Back to Me Now" and "That’s The Way It Is."   

"Love Again" is Céline’s first feature film, while the song is her first released track since "Courage" in 2019. This song is also her first single out since she revealed her health condition in December 2022.

During the announcement of her illness at 54 years old, Céline said that her team of doctors was still learning about stiff-person syndrome, but they finally had some answers to her frequent spasms. She said that her condition had given her difficulties with walking and the use of her vocal cords.

Stiff-person syndrome occurs when there is a disruption in the pathways of communication from the brain to the muscles, which turn rigid or stiff. Aside from muscle stiffness and spasms, the symptoms of this condition include the risk of falling down or problems with breathing.

Céline said that she's doing better after the diagnosis because she has gotten the proper treatment for her condition. However, the "My Heart Will Go On" singer admitted that her recovery had been slower than she had hoped. She has to be in the best shape when performing on stage, and she’s not quite there yet. For this reason, she was also forced to cancel the remainder of her “Courage” world tour in May 2023. 

“I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%. It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again,” Céline said in announcing the cancellation on Instagram. 

As for her role in “Love Again,” Céline said she “had a lot of fun” appearing in her first feature film. “Love Again” also touches on grief following a loved one's death. Céline is no stranger to the feeling, having lost her husband to throat cancer in 2016. Two days after René’s death, Céline also lost her brother, Daniel Dion, to cancer as well.

Speaking with "Good Morning America" in 2019, Céline said that she had to "go forward" and keep living to get through her grief. Friends of the singer said that her three sons with René – René-Charles Angélil and twins Eddy and Nelson Angélil – had been her rock, especially after learning about her health struggles. Céline's eternal optimism is also helping her manage her condition and boosting her fighting spirit on her road to recovery.

As Céline courageously confronts significant health issues, it is comforting to know that she is being supported by those closest to her, including her family. Celine’s sister, Claudette Dion, 74, revealed to Le Journal de Montreal that another one of their sisters, Linda Dion, was living with the singer in the home she shares with her sons. 

“When I call her and she's busy, I speak to my sister Linda who lives with her and tells me that she's working hard. She's listening to the top researchers in the field of this rare disease as much as possible,” Claudette told the outlet. 

She added while Céline’s health diagnosis was saddening, she had every confidence in her sister’s ability to make the best choices for herself and listen to what her body tells her.

“It's innate to her, she's disciplined in every area of her life… We can't find any medicine that works, but having hope is important… I honestly think that she mostly needs to rest. She always goes above and beyond, she always tries to be the best and top of her game. At one point, your heart and your body are trying to tell you something. It's important to listen to it,” Claudette added.

Claudette said she also told Céline that as difficult as her struggles appeared now, she still ought to look toward the future.

“I also said to her, 'I know you're an orphan, I know you're a widow, I know you're a single mom, but with everything you've given, you will receive in return,’” Claudette, who is also Céline’s godmother, said.

Claudette also opened up to Hello! Canada Magazine to give an update on her sister in September 2023. After describing Céline as “a strong woman” who was “doing everything to recover,” Claudette revealed dealing with her illness was made all the more difficult by it being so rare.

“It's an illness we know so little about. There are spasms – they're impossible to control. You know how people often jump up in the night because of a cramp in the leg or the calf? It's a bit like that, but in all muscles,” she said.

Claudette lamented there was “little we can do to support her, to alleviate her pain.” 

Despite the seemingly pessimistic outlook on the star’s health situation, Claudette said Céline’s loving family members were “crossing our fingers that researchers will find a remedy for this awful illness.” She also credited Céline’s fans with supporting the star through this challenging period and helping to lift her spirits.

“They love Céline, not only for the voice she has, but also for the human being she is. For the woman she has become, for the mother she has become. … We love her for the person she is,” Claudette remarked. 

The sentiment proved true as the update incited fans to express their sadness while also offering prayers and words of encouragement to the music icon.

“Praying for a recovery for Celine..I saw her yrs ago in Vegas what a beautiful show I cried..she is awesome !!!” one fan shared while another wrote, “Such a lovely woman beautiful voice so sad there (sic) little they can do I wish her well so much miss her very much Celine everyone misses you and long to see u once again really soon god bless.”

Do you sympathize with Celine Dion’s health struggles? Does it make you feel better to know that her loved ones are supporting her as best they can? If so, let us know and pass this along to friends and family you would support through thick and thin, too.