Paris cheers the power of Celine Dion

NANTERRE: Celine Dion made an emotional return to the stage after a six-year absence on Saturday, overcoming high-profile health woes to ​thrill fans in the first of a series of concerts in ‌Paris.

“I’m standing on stage in this city I love so much thanks to your support and your love,” she told the crowd. “The path was rocky, the road was longer than ​planned but I held on.”

The star announced in 2022 she had been ​diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition which ⁠causes muscle spasms and left her unable to perform.

Dion seemed overwhelmed at times ​and broke down in tears during her opening number, holding out a microphone ​to the audience to help her through the bridge.

“I promised I wouldn’t cry - but they’re tears of joy,” she said, speaking mostly French throughout.

The staging was muted and Dion mainly wore ​a series of black gowns, leaving little to distract from her obvious ​emotion at being back in front of a crowd.

“She didn’t shy away from what she suffered ‌and ⁠she shared it with her audience,” British fan Catherine Rushforth said as she left the arena in Nanterre on the outskirts of Paris.

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Dion strutted confidently through her familiar on-stage theatrics, pulling faces and playing air guitar, and belting out ​ballads including “My Heart Will ​Go On” and “All ⁠By Myself” which made her one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.

But she opened with one of ​her biggest French-language hits “On Ne Change Pas” (“We Don’t Change”) - an ​apparent reference ⁠to her extended absence.

Her 16-concert residency, with a further 10 dates in 2027, has caused a frenzy in the French capital where crowds gather outside her swanky ⁠hotel until ​the early hours hoping to catch a glimpse ​of her.

“Her fight is an example for all of us, it’s wonderful,” said fan Julien Faruch, ​a chef.