The Canadian star was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022
Canadian singer Celine Dion has admitted she was ‘very nervous’ to present Taylor Swift her Grammy Award earlier this year.
In February, 34-year-old Swift’s album Midnights took home the prestigious Album of the Year gong – beating out the likes of Jon Batiste, Boygenius, Olivia Rodrigo and SZA.
Ahead of the ‘Bad Blood’ hitmaker receiving her Grammy, Dion, 56, was introduced at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to hand over the grand prize.
Months after the event, the Canadian singer admitted it had been an ‘honor’ to appear at the 66th Grammy Awards to present Swift with the trophy.
“It was [her] fourth [time] winning this award, which is exceptional,” she told People.
“It was going to be my first time [back at the Grammys], and I didn’t want to feel wobbly.
“I was going to be very, very nervous and happy at the same time.”
Dion, who suffers from a little-known illness called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), can sometimes enter a crisis episode if her brain is overstimulated and was worried that her legs wouldn’t be ‘ready’ to walk out to the audience.
“It was a lot,” she admitted.
However, when she stepped out on the stage in California she was accompanied by her 23-year-old son René-Charles to steady her.
Despite her hesitance, her surprise appearance was met with a standing ovation and a round of applause from the crowd.
“When I felt that love, I had no doubt that [this is what] I miss and what I want. To see that I’m still in it and that they allowed me to be there… I enjoyed every moment”.
Celine Dion presented Taylor Swift with her Grammy. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
She added that she was so grateful that her son kept an eye on her and repeatedly asked her if she was okay on stage.
In December 2022, Dion admitted that she had been ‘dealing with problems’ regarding her health ‘for a long time’ and that she had been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder.
According to Mayo Clinic, stiff-person syndrome is a motor function characterized by involuntary stiffness of axial muscles.
Sufferers can also experience superimposed painful muscle spasms, which are often induced by startle or emotional stimuli.
She was met with applause on stage. (VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Symptoms include stiffness, spasms and exaggerated startle responses which sometimes result in falling.
Fans of Dion will be able to see how the singer’s health plight has been affecting her in the new documentary, I Am: Celine Dion.
Directed by Irene Taylor, the Amazon Prime movie will detail the ‘My Heart Will Go On’ singer’s life, accomplishments and battle with stiff-person syndrome.
I Am: Celine Dion will be released on Amazon Prime Video on 25 June.
