Celine Dion gets candid about 'struggle' with stiff person syndrome in new doc: Watch
A first-look at the upcoming documentary that will show the behind-the-scenes of Céline Dion's battle with stiff person syndrome is here.
The trailer for "I Am: Celine Dion" released on May 23, giving a peek at how Dion has been working toward being able to perform live again since her diagnosis with a rare neurological disorder that has no cure.
"I'm working hard every day, but I have to admit it's been a struggle," she says in the trailer, getting choked up with emotion. "I miss it so much, the people. I miss them."
"If I can't run, I'll walk. If I can't walk, I'll crawl," she vows. "But I won't stop."
In the midst of her Courage World Tour, Dion had to postpone shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. A year later, "The Power of Love" singer postponed her Las Vegas residency due to muscle spasms, and in January 2022, Dion had to cancel her postponed world tour dates as she recovered from treatment for "severe and persistent muscle spasms."
At the end of 2022, Dion revealed in an emotional Instagram video that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, which was causing her to experience these muscle spasms. In May 2023, she canceled her world tour in its entirety.
Stiff person syndrome: What to know about the rare neurological disorder
"It's not hard to do a show, you know. It's hard to cancel a show," she says in the trailer.
Dion has made a handful of public appearance amid her health battle, including a surprise showing at the Grammys in February to present the final category, the album of the year award. In early May, she went to the Rolling Stones' concert in Vegas with her children.
When does 'I Am: Celine Dion' come out?
The 102-minute documentary from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor is slated to release worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on June 25.
The film promises an intimate look at Dion's day-to-day life as she lives on the outskirts of Las Vegas with her twin sons. Fans will be able to see the musical icon's warehouse full of props and wardrobe from over the decades as well as archival performance footage of songs such as "Treat Her Like A Lady."
According to a press release for the film, "Amidst the hardship, her fans will be treated to Celine's irresistible sense of humor, lightness, and joy with which she approaches life. Her love of family, fun and fashion shines throughout the film, counterbalancing its otherwise heavy nature to give us a unique window into Celine's exuberant, uplifting spirit."
What is Celine Dion's neurological disorder diagnosis?
The 56-year-old music powerhouse, who has five Grammys of her own, is battling stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that affects one or two in a million people, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The disease notably causes progressive muscle stiffness and painful spasms. Treatments focus on relieving symptoms.
"It's a disease that's characterized by progressive muscle stiffness, muscle spasms, rigidity – typically in the muscles of the back, specifically the lower back, as well as the upper legs," Dr. Kunal Desai, a Yale Medicine neurologist and assistant professor of neurology who specializes in neuromuscular disease, previously told USA TODAY.
"It can affect other muscles, including muscles in the arms as well as speaking and swallowing muscles," Desai said. "But that's less common."
With extreme muscle spasms, "the muscles can feel tight as a rock. So, it can be very, very uncomfortable and painful," Desai said, adding that other stimuli that can provoke these spasms sometimes include touching the muscles, "certain subtle movements" and stress.
Contributing: Wyatte Grantham-Philips
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Celine Dion talks stiff person syndrome 'struggle' in new documentary
