Celine Dion sheds 'tears of joy' in emotional and triumphant return to the stage in Paris - National Post

Celine Dion reacts as she performs during her first concert of a series in Paris Saturday. Photo by THOMAS SAMSON /AFP via Getty ImagesArticle contentCeline Dion wept tears of joy on Saturday as she fulfilled her dream of returning to the stage after years battling a rare neurological disorder, with a sold-out concert in Paris.

The 58-year-old French Canadian singer appeared visibly moved as she opened her first full concert in six years with her 1990s French-language ballad “On ne change pas” (“One Doesn’t Change”), singing to a crowd of 30,000 enthralled fans that one newspaper said included US former first lady Michelle Obama.

“These are, of course, tears of joy. I’m so delighted to see you,” Dion said, blowing kisses to the audience at the packed Plénitude Arena on the western edge of Paris.

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Her return to the stage underscored a remarkable comeback after Stiff Person Syndrome, an incurable condition that causes stiffness and cramps, forced her to cancel shows and cast years of uncertainty over whether she would ever perform again.

“The path was rockier than expected,” she said, speaking in French and English.

“But I held on to a faint ray of light in the distance, deep in the mountains.”

“Tonight, I want to sing for you, sing for myself, sing for life,” she added.

The largely female crowd sported sequined dresses and tops, glittered cheeks, and T-shirts emblazoned with the star’s image or nods to her biggest hits.

“It’s unreal to be here,” said Elisabeth Landry, a 38-year-old Quebecer who lives near the star’s hometown of Charlemagne.

“I was convinced we’d never see her again, especially not embarking on a run of concerts like this.”

French daily Le Parisien said the former first lady of the United States was “discreetly attending this first concert.”

Just hours before, one of the best-selling singers of all time greeted admirers outside her luxury hotel a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe.