Céline Dion Hugs Emotional Son Rene-Charles Before She Performs at Olympics in New Behind-the-Scenes Video

Mar. 15, 2025

René-Charles and Céline Dion.Photo:Dave Allocca/StarPix/Shutterstock

Rene-Charles and Celine Dion

Dave Allocca/StarPix/Shutterstock

Céline Dionwas thankful for her sonRené-Charles’ support at the2024 Paris Olympics.

The performance markeda surprise returnand her first performance since she announced herstiff-person syndrome diagnosisin December 2022.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Céline Dion performs in Paris in July 2024.IOC via Getty

Celine Dion

IOC via Getty

Next, the clip shows her changing intoher dazzling Olympics Opening Ceremony dress, which took Dior more than 1,000 hours to create. The silver design featured around 1,640 feet of beaded fringing.

Dion also showed footage of herself in the hair and makeup chair, sitting in front of a bright vanity with a smokey eye for her glam.

The “I’m Alive” singer showed her flexibility with pre-show stretches.

After her accessories were added, it was time for her to hit the stage.

As Dion exited her dressing room, she acknowledged her team along the way with fist bumps before getting to René-Charles, 23, who was waiting for her at the base of the stage riser.

Her oldest, who she shared with her late husbandRené Angélil, was visibly shaken in the clip as he watched his mother’s epic return to the stage.

After a sweet embrace, Dion began her performance.

Celine Dion and her 3 sons go to a hockey game together.Celine Dion/ Instagram

Celine Dion and her 3 sons go to a hockey game together

Celine Dion/ Instagram

“I barely could walk at one point, and I was missing very much living.My kids started to notice. I was like, ‘OK, they already lost a parent. I don’t want them to be scared,’ “she told PEOPLE.

In 2016,Angélil died from throat cancerat the age of 73. Angélil and Dion had been married since 1994.

“I let them know, ‘You lost your dad, [but] mom has a condition and it’s different. I’m not going to die. It’s something that I’m going to learn to live with,’ " she continued.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The rare, incurable condition caused Dion to suffer from excruciating muscle spasms, and difficulty walking and breathing for years before she was diagnosed with SPS. Her symptoms became so debilitating that shecanceled a planned Las Vegas residency, as well astour dates in late 2021 and 2022.

Though the Paris Olympics was her first performance since the diagnosis, she did make a surprise appearance topresent Taylor Swift the album of the yearaward at the Grammys in February.

“I miss it so much. The people, I miss them,” Dion said of working. “If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl … I won’t stop.”

Her in-depth documentary,I Am: Céline Dion, is now streaming on Prime Video.

source: people.com