Céline Dion has cancelled her world tour months after being diagnosed with a rare neurological condition known as Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).
She told fans it was “not fair” to keep postponing shows so has been forced to cancel the Courage World Tour with “tremendous disappointment”.
In an Instagram post, the singer, 54, said: “It is with tremendous disappointment that we have to announce today the cancellation of the Courage World Tour.
“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 per cent.
“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.”
Tickets purchased for the 42 cancelled dates will be refunded.
Dion first shared her diagnosis of SPS in December 2022, saying the effect on her health meant she could not start a tour of Europe in February as planned.
SPS is a rare condition that causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms. Dion said at the time that the spasms have affected “every aspect” of her daily life, including making it difficult to walk and sing in the way she is used to.
She had already cancelled the North American leg of the Courage tour in January. A statement on the star’s website in April announced further cancellations, saying she was continuing to “recover from a recent health issue”.
“Celine had completed the first 52 shows on the tour before the pandemic emerged in March 2020, but recently has been treated for severe and persistent muscle spasms which are preventing her from performing, and her recovery is taking longer than she hoped,” the statement said.
What is stiff-person syndrome?
According to the US-based National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, SPS is a rare neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease.
It is a condition which causes muscle spasms – sufferers have a heightened sensitivity to noise, touch and emotional distress which can set off the spasms and falls. People with SPS can be so restricted by the spasms they are too disabled to walk or move.
The disease is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s and is frequently associated with autoimmune conditions such as diabetes or thyroiditis.
Doctors don’t yet know what causes SPS, but research indicates that it is the result of an autoimmune response gone awry in the brain and spinal cord.
Treatments can include muscle relaxants, pain relievers and anti-anxiety drugs.
