Celine Dion Opens Up About Stiff-Person Syndrome Diagnosis and Valium Use

Céline Dion has revealed she relied on high doses of Valium for years to manage severe physical symptoms while performing, before receiving a formal diagnosis of stiff person syndrome in 2022, according to reporting from Euronews and CNEWS. The Grammy-winning singer opened up about her 17-year struggle with the rare neurological disorder in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar.

Managing Stiff Person Syndrome Symptoms

According to CNEWS, the rare autoimmune disorder affects roughly one person in a million. It is characterized by severe muscle stiffness in the trunk and abdomen alongside painful muscle spasms. Dion explained to Harper’s Bazaar that the condition caused pain so debilitating that she could barely walk on certain days.

To keep her body functioning normally, the singer stated that she had to take high doses of Valium. The medication was prescribed to treat anxiety and relax her muscles, allowing her to cope with the progressive condition. Dion noted in the interview that she prefers to avoid the word disease when describing her health, telling Harper’s Bazaar, It’s a condition progressive. I don’t like to say ‘disease.’ The disease makes you say things like that, as reported by CNEWS.

Career Disruptions and the Path to Diagnosis

Before receiving her official diagnosis in 2022, Dion dealt with mounting health problems that forced her to cancel performances and alter her career schedule. According to CNEWS, she felt she was inadvertently misleading fans when she had to cancel concerts at the last minute due to deep-seated health issues while publicly citing routine sinus infections or coughs.

Public signs of her struggle intensified in October 2021 when she canceled a planned Las Vegas residency citing medical concerns, followed by the cancellation of her North American tour in January 2022 due to persistent muscle spasms. She officially announced her stiff person syndrome diagnosis later that year, which brought a temporary halt to her touring career.

Rigorous Physical Therapy and Return to the Stage

Following her diagnosis, Dion engaged in a comprehensive rehabilitation regimen that includes new medications, physical therapy, voice training, and immunotherapy, according to CNEWS reporting. Although no approved cure exists for the autoimmune disorder, her foundation donated $2 million toward autoimmune neurological disorder research in 2024.

To prepare for her upcoming performances at Paris La Défense Arena beginning on September 12, Dion maintains a strict physical routine. CNEWS reported that she participates in 90-minute pilates sessions three times a week and ballet classes twice a week, enabling her to stand straight, touch her toes, and perform splits. The upcoming dates mark her return to French stages following a rare appearance at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.