Celine Dion is ‘secretly practicing for Las Vegas comeback with 70 minutes shows’ as she battles Stiff Person Syndrome
CELINE Dion is set to make a sensational live music comeback in Las Vegas, sources have exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
The French Canadian superstar, 56, is said to be secretly practicing for a limited run of shows which will see her return this fall after four years away from the stage.
It is claimed she is planning to perform her greatest hits on stage for 70 minutes per show despite battling the debilitating Stiff Person Syndrome neurological disease.
The U.S. Sun is told that Celine is likely to perform the shows at the Resorts World Theatre at around the time of the Las Vegas Formula One grand prix.
However, there are also plans in place to push the run to a later date next year if her health issues get in the way, insiders say.
Concert promoter AEG would stage the events, with a “short run at first” to see if she can cope with the challenges of performing live.
Sources say that the mom-of-three, who lives in Sin City, has been rehearsing with musicians and aided by voice therapists for the last eight months.
The last time she performed live was in Newark, New Jersey during her Courage world tour on March 8, 2020.
She was forced to cancel the tour after the Covid pandemic hit and has not been able to perform since due to her health problems.
The bombshell claims regarding her return comes after fans were left shocked last month by the portrayal of the singer’s health battle in Prime Video documentary I Am: Celine Dion.
“Celine is coming back to perform,” a well-placed Las Vegas live entertainment source said.
“It is hush hush at the moment, but an announcement is imminent.
“Celine has signed off on singing again to audiences in November.
“She has worked incredibly hard to get back to a place where she can sing well and for some period of time.
“She believes that she is ready to perform for over an hour.
“Her desire to return and entertain has been a huge driving force in her health battles.
“She never gave up and has been working in secret for months on her vocal strength and control.
“It started out as small sessions with her musicians at her home and has now grown into being able to sing a number of songs in a row to a standard she feels excited and content with.”
The source added that Celine has the full support of AEG, who she has a longstanding business relationship with.
Celine has signed off on singing again to audiences in November.
Las Vegas live entertainment source
“Executives there are beyond excited that she has made such progress,” the source added.
“They are beyond supportive and feel very happy to collaborate to make sure everything is right for any return.
“She will do a few limited dates to effectively test out her health and well being and mental health too.
“There is no doubt that the fans will support her no matter what happens.
“Of course like all these situations, Celine’s health and wellbeing comes first.
“But at this moment a November return is the focus and then anything beyond that will be discussed after that run.”
CELINE'S RETURN TO THE STAGE
CELINE Dion is said to be planning a short run of Las Vegas shows later in the year. Here is what we know so far:
- Celine last performed on stage in New Jersey in March 2020
- Her new shows are said to planned to go ahead in November at around the time of the Formula One racing
- If Celine’s health issues get in the way, the run of shows could be moved to early 2025
- Celine is claimed to have been secretly rehearsing with musicians and the aide of voice therapists for the last eight months
- The shows would be produced by global live music brand AEG and are expected to take place at the Resort Worlds Theatre
- The new claims come after Celine’s struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome was laid bare last month in a new documentary
Celine was expected to open a brand new show at Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas in November 2021.
Those dates were cancelled due to “unforeseen medical symptoms”.
Celine admitted that “severe and persistent muscle spasms” were to blame before going public with her SPS diagnosis in December 2022.
A second source – a veteran Vegas live music dealmaker – confirmed the claims that Celine is coming back.
Meanwhile, a third insider who is a longstanding Vegas concert executive who has worked with AEG said, “Everyone is on pace to make November work.
“But there is some caution that if she is not ready for that then early 2025 will still be an option, because they want to make sure she and her medical advisors are 100% happy.
“This syndrome is not something which obeys people’s schedules and plans and could flare up at any point.
“So that this is a reality everyone has to live with.”
Celine’s comeback would no doubt be one of the hottest tickets in Vegas history.
If it goes ahead at the same time as high rollers arrive in Sin City for the Formula One racing from November 21 to 23 the cost could reach into the tens of thousands of dollars.
In the recent Prime documentary, Celine allowed cameras to capture her writhing in pain during a physical therapy session in 2022.
She admitted that her condition has affected her life and performances for 15 years and prompted her to retreat from the public eye.
As she has grown stronger she has started going out again and ha been spotted at NHL games and live events like Katy Perry’s farewell at Resorts World.
In February she received a standing ovation at the Grammys after presenting Album of the Year to Taylor Swift.
Last month Celine expressed her desire to play live again in an interview with Today host Hoda Kotb.
“I’m gonna go back onstage, even if I have to crawl,” she said.
“Even if I have to talk with my hands, I will. I will. I am Celine Dion.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Celine’s reps, AEG and Resorts World to ask for comment.