When people ask me what my favorite part of the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony was, my answer will always be Céline Dion’s performance.
The event had countless brilliant aspects, from dancers putting on dazzling shows all over the city to the athletes from every country smiling and waving to the adoring crowd while riding through the Seine.
However, only one person was named a “vocal athlete” that night, and it was Céline Dion.
For those who don’t know, Céline Dion has had a wild past few years, battling illness and being forced to work harder than ever to get back to doing what she loves for her loyal fans. That is why her performance at the Olympics in Paris, which is among her favorite cities, was so significant.
Here is a little more information on the iconic appearance, which triumphantly closed out this year’s opening ceremony.
Céline is one of the world’s most famous singers, known for her stunning power ballads like “My Heart Will Go On” and “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.” She’s a French Canadian whose vocals often bring people to tears, as she can hit many strong notes with a lot of passion.
In 2022, Céline announced that she had been diagnosed with the neurological disorder Stiff Person Syndrome, which forever changed her music career.
Stiff Person Syndrome can be an incredibly painful disorder that causes intense muscle spasms and stiffness. Céline mentioned in interviews that once, the muscles around her abdomen spasmed so hard she broke a few ribs.
Moreover, Céline said when she tried to sing after getting diagnosed, on her lowest days, it felt as though someone was strangling her. It’s hard to imagine not being able to do the thing that not only brings you so much joy but also happens to be what you’re renowned for.
Following her diagnosis, Céline took a break from the spotlight but reassured her fans that she would do everything in her power to train, practice, and heal to once again get on stage and sing.
Amazingly, she did exactly that. In her documentary, “I Am: Céline Dion,” which premiered in June, Céline showcases her resilience and details all the highs and lows she’s experienced since her diagnosis.
Then, over a month later, on July 26th, she stood on a platform in the center of the Eiffel Tower and gloriously belted, “Hymne à l’amour,” a famous ballad written by legendary French singer Edith Piaf to close out the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony.
While many of the opening ceremony performers chose to work with pre-recorded tracks, Céline insisted on singing live, giving her audience a more personal and captivating show and displaying her hard work.
Another tear-jerking aspect of the song choice is that “Hymne à l’amour” was penned by Edith after the passing of her love, Marcel Cerdan, who died in a plane crash in 1949 on his way to visit her in New York City.
Fans of Céline know that she’s familiar with that kind of loss, as her beloved husband, René Angélil, passed away from cancer in 2016. So, after the performance aired, some viewers believed she may have been serenading René in the sky.
Céline’s touching and magnificent rendition of “Hymne à l’amour,” on top of a glowing Eiffel Tower, is one any music lover should see and will go down in history as one of the most memorable moments in opening ceremony history.
