'The least I can do is tell them that I'm alive' - Céline Dion reveals intense exercise regime to prepare for her triumphant return

Two years since her last appearance performing on stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Céline Dion is getting ready for her much-anticipated residency in the French capital.

Céline’s return to the spotlight, following her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, an extremely rare autoimmune neurological disorder that can cause muscle stiffness tantamount to paralysis, is a hard-fought victory.

Without any FDA-approved treatment for the incredibly rare illness, Céline reveals in a new interview that she has been relying on 90-minute Pilates sessions three times a week, ballet classes twice a week, plus new medication, physical therapy, vocal therapy and immunotherapy.

After being in the spotlight since the age of 13, one might wonder why the superstar is putting herself through this. Emotionally, she says it’s for the fans - and to prove she’s got plenty of fight left in her.

She told Harper's Bazaar, "They paid for tickets. They bought my records. They gave me that luxury. So the least I can do is tell them that I’m alive." She also spoke about the feeling of getting back out in public after battling the syndrome for many years.

She said of her decision to work hard for her return to the stage, "Well, girl, if you don’t want to sign autographs and you don’t want to get yourself pretty and you don’t want to be disturbed because your pasta is going to get cold, you can always stay home. But look at what you have."

Officially diagnosed in 2022, Céline revealed that she was actually showing symptoms of the syndrome as early as 2005. Things got worse around 2020, with Céline taking solace in the isolation that happened to fall at the same time as the pandemic, finding some peace in nature.

She told the magazine, "I love trees so much, and I had this vision of myself trying to disappear through the leaves". She then shared an image of her fans coming to her for the apples from the trees, that she could no longer produce.

"I was trying to tell them, 'I’m sorry, I don’t have any apples to give you anymore'”, when she heard a voice, "But we did not come for the apples; we came for the tree."

This inspired the My Heart Will Go On legend to stop hiding, which led to the release of her confronting and candid 2024 documentary, I Am: Céline.

For the first time, Céline let fans see the extent of her syndrome, including upsetting footage of the singer doubled over in pain, unable to sing clearly, and, at one point, barely able to move or speak.

She was down, but not out. She’s worked hard to be able to put on her upcoming Paris shows - which sold out in minutes.

Announcing the shows, she shared on social media, "This year, I’m getting the best birthday gift of my life. I’m getting the chance to see you, to perform for you."