Celine Dion recalls nerves and excitement of surprise Grammy appearance

Celine Dion

Celine Dion found it “very nerve-wracking” to “see showbusiness again” at the Grammy Awards.

The 56-year-old singer has been largely out of the spotlight for the last two years after being diagnosed with rare neurological disorder stiff person syndrome (SPS) in 2022 but she surprised the audience at the ceremony in February when she made an appearance to present Album of the Year to Taylor Swift, and she admitted it was an emotional evening that “took a lot” out of her.

Speaking to Vogue for their ‘Life in Looks’ series on YouTube, Celine said: “It was very nerve-wracking, but at the same time, a big honour.

“That magic. That excitement. To see the fans, to see the crowd. To see show business again.

“It took a lot, a lot out of me. But my son, René Charles — RC — came and gave me his support. And to present the award — the album of the year — to Taylor Swift — it was an honour because she’s having the time of her life and I’m the one who’s presenting it to her.

“But it’s always very, very touching when you have a standing ovation.”

The ‘Think Twice’ singer – who has sons Rene Charles, 23, and 13-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy with late husband Rene Angelil – wore a mustard yellow Valentino coat over her dress when she went out on stage and she explained how the garment offered her comfort in the spotlight.

She said: “I was like, ‘You can walk onstage with a coat? Oh yeah! You can do whatever you want in fashion, have a good time, wear that coat, own that coat, go for it.’ And it made me feel better for a moment to hold onto this coat, to hide myself a little bit from all these little things.”

Breaking into her 2019 track ‘Imperfections’, she sang: “I got my own imperfections. I got my own…I got my own, whole…”

She added: “So, we did it.”

Meanwhile, Celine admitted she is hoping for a “miracle” cure for her SPS.

She told France’s Vogue magazine: “I haven’t beat the disease, as it’s still within me and always will be. I hope that we’ll find a miracle, a way to cure it with scientific research, but for now I have to learn to live with it.

“Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy. I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice… I have to learn to live with it now and stop questioning myself.”