Celine Dion Health Challenges Cancel Two Years Of Shows

Celine Dion’s much-publicised battle with the neurological disorder stiff-person syndrome has entered the news once again, as the legendary Canadian singer has been forced to cancel even more shows.

All her remaining dates for 2023 and 2024 have been cancelled, with many slated to take place in Europe. All tickets will be refunded.

“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%,” the My Heart Will Go On singer said in a statement. “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.”

She added, “I’m not giving up,” and “I can’t wait to see you again.”

I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again... and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything until I’m really ready to be back on stage... I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!” – Celine xx…
More info👉https://t.co/DHUch7W7OF pic.twitter.com/bgszxVd1za

— Celine Dion (@celinedion) May 26, 2023

The Courage World Tour – named after her 2019 album – has faced previous postponements, which happened after Dion revealed her stiff person syndrome diagnosis in December.

"I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time,” she revealed a few months ago. "And it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through. 

"Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff person syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people. While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms I’ve been having."

She continued, "Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to. It hurts me to tell you today that this means I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February."

Assuring family, friends, and fans alike, Dion shared that she was working with a sports medicine therapist to help her regain physical strength. Anti-anxiety and muscle relaxant drugs are believed to alleviate muscle spasms people with stiff-person syndrome face, the National Institute for Neurological Disorders details on its website. 

The National Institute for Neurological Disorders says that Stiff Person Syndrome affects twice as many women as men. The disorder is often associated with autoimmune diseases such as type-1 diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia.