Her heart might go on, but sadly her tour won’t. Celine Dion announced Friday that she is canceling the remainder of her 2023-24 concert dates. A source close to her told CNN that she “will likely never tour again.”
“I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again,” Dion said in an announcement on her Instagram account. “I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%. It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again. I want you all to know, I’m not giving up … and I can’t wait to see you again!”
Dion was diagnosed late last year with a rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “SPS is characterized by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms.”
In December, she postponed eight shows, but now all dates of the Courage World Tour have been canceled.
Dion told her fans at the time: “While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having. Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
Dion had completed the first 52 dates of the tour — including a stop in Atlanta — before the pandemic.
On January 11, 2020, at State Farm Arena, “Dion reveled in a triumphant return to a city she hasn’t played since 2009. Her joy was evident immediately as she rose from beneath the stage, saluting and waving to the frantic crowd of mostly Chardonnay-swillers while striking the first of many, many, many dramatic poses,” the AJC wrote of her performance.
All tickets for the canceled shows will be refunded at their point of purchase.
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