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Celine Dion is back.
Dion closed the opening ceremony lasting more than four hours of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – which took place on Friday (July 26) – with a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf“Hymn to Love” from the first stage of the Eiffel Tower.
The opening ceremony, which took place along the His rivermarked Dion’s first live performance since announcing she had been diagnosed with rare and incurable neurological disorder Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022.
“I burst into tears at Celine Dion “Dude,” tweeted one fan, while a second said the singer’s performance was “definitely worth the wait.”
“Celine Dion gives one of the most beautiful performances you will ever see,” a third praised. “With everything she’s been through, she makes me cry.”
“Queen @celinedion is back!!!,” added another.
Before making his triumphant musical return, Dion tweeted: “So happy to be here with you this week! I would also like to give a huge thank you to the local gendarmes for keeping us safe.” She also shared photos of herself greeting fans.
The ceremony began with a dazzling act by Lady Gaga, who performed a pre-recorded song Performing Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc en Plumes.” Wearing a black leotard, Gaga took center stage alongside a group of dancers who twirled and strutted around her fluffy pink fans.
Reports began circulating earlier this week that Dion and Gaga were scheduled to perform at the opening ceremony after Dion was spotted arriving at the Royal Monceau hotel near the Champs-Élysées, where Gaga was also staying.
There were initially rumors that Dion and Gaga would perform a duet of the Edith Piaf classic “La Môme.”
The lengthy ceremony also saw performances by French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura and French heavy metal rockers Gojira.
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Amidst the concerts, the Olympic flame was relayed by legendary athletes, including tennis icons Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, NBA star Tony Parker and France’s oldest Olympic champion Charles Coste. Three-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec, a triple track gold medalist in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996, lit the cauldron at the end, letting it float into the night sky.
Organisers ditched the traditional stadium format to showcase the sights and sounds of the city, with athletes parading along the waterway in an impressive display.
Despite the bad weather, thousands of people gathered along the banks to watch the ceremony.
Follow The Independent’s Paris 2024 Olympics live blog here for real-time updates.