Celine Dion Releases First Song Since Receiving Neurological Condition Diagnosis

Celine Dion has returned to music with Love Again, her first new track since 2019’s Courage and her first since receiving the diagnosis of stiff person syndrome in December.

Love Again is the first of five songs Dion supplied to the upcoming movie of the same name. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan - Dion’s first-ever appearance in a film, and she stars as a fictionalised version of herself.

In a press release via Pitchfork, Dion revealed, “I had a lot of fun doing this movie. And to have the privilege of appearing with the beautiful and talented actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan in my very first feature film is a gift that I will cherish forever. I think it’s a wonderful feel-good story, and I hope that people will like it and like the new songs too.”

Dion rescheduled forthcoming 2023 dates until 2024 due to her previously mentioned stiff person syndrome diagnosis, a neurological syndrome that’s believed amongst scientists and doctors to be incurable.

"I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time," the My Heart Will Go On singer began in a video statement explaining the postponement. "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.

The US 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.

Current research indicates that SPS stems from an autoimmune response gone awry in the brain and spinal cord. 

A dangerous factor about Stiff Person Diagnosis is that it's frequently misdiagnosed as Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, psychosomatic illness, or anxiety and phobia. This misdiagnosis costs people time and leaves them without the necessary answers and support.

Check out Celine Dion’s new song below.