Celine Dion has canceled her entire Courage World Tour due to her ongoing health battle with Stiff Person Syndrome.
Dion, 55, was diagnosed with a neurological disease in December 2022, and she revealed the news to her fans via a heartfelt Instagram video.
"Hello everyone, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reach out to you," the singer began. "I miss you all so much and can’t wait to be on stage talking to you in person.
"I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time and it has been really difficult for me to face my challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through.
"Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff person syndrome which affects 1 in a million people," the star continued.
When discussing how the disease impacts her life, Dion said: "Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal chords to sing the way I'm used to."
The iconic singer has now made the tough decision to cancel her Courage World Tour, as she continues to battle the neurological disease, as she made a heartbreaking announcement via social media.
Dion expressed that canceling the tour was no easy decision and that she feels "tremendous disappointment" in having to do so.
"I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%," Dion wrote.
The 'My Heart Will Go On' singer added that it isn't fair to fans if she keeps postponing shows, so she felt it better to cancel them indefinitely until she could build up the strength to tour again.
Whilst little is known about Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that it's 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."
The institute continued: "People with SPS can be too disabled to walk or move, or they are afraid to leave the house because street noises, such as the sound of a horn, can trigger spasms and falls."
Women are twice as likely to be affected by SPS as men and symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 and 60.
There is currently no known cure, but doctors can treat symptoms by using muscle relaxants and steroids.
We wish Dion all the best in her battle against the disease, and we hope that she will be back up on stage in the future.
