‘A legend’: Celine Dion poised for emotional comeback in Paris

Paris will witness Celine Dion's highly anticipated return to the stage on Saturday evening, marking a significant milestone in her comeback journey after battling a rare neurological disorder. The 58-year-old Canadian singer will perform her first full concert in six years at the Plenitude Arena, in front of around 30,000 fans.

This emotional comeback has been a long time coming, with Dion struggling to sing due to Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that caused her to cancel shows and suffer severe muscle stiffness and agonising spasms. Fans, who have been counting down the hours for this night, paid a premium to see Dion perform once again.

Some even made the pilgrimage to the venue on Friday to experience the atmosphere ahead of her opening show. The couple, Chloe and Katy Rydquist, from London, paid £1,500 for their tickets, deeming it worth the price to witness Dion's return. She has sold over 260 million albums in English and French throughout her four-decade career, and her hits include "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" and "Because You Loved Me."

Before her concert, Dion performed at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, singing Edith Piaf's "Hymn to Love." Paris is celebrating Dion's return beyond the arena, with costume contests, giant karaoke parties, and tribute cruises on the Seine. For those who missed out on tickets, Dion has made herself available to greet fans outside her hotel, sometimes breaking into song and dance.