Céline Dion was spotted leaving a hotel in the French capital on Tuesday amid reports that the Canadian pop icon was set to perform at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
The My Heart Will Go On singer was pictured signing autographs and taking selfies with fans outside the the Royal Monceau hotel before entering a car.
Entertainment publication TMZ reported that Dion was to perform at the event on Friday, citing unnamed sources.
Dion will reportedly perform L’Hymne à l’amour by iconic French singer Édith Piaf, newspaper Le Parisien reported.
A publicist for Dion did not immediately respond to a request by CBC News for comment.
The native of Charlemagne, Que., announced in December 2022 that she was stepping back from performing due to a diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that inhibits the ability to move and — more importantly to Dion — use one’s voice.
Speaking to CBC News in June, Dion said she was committed to recovering and vowed, “I’ll sing again. That’s for sure.”
In this intensely personal, candid and revealing exclusive from the team at The National, Céline Dion opens up to CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault about coping with stiff person syndrome, losing the voice that has guided her life and how she is determined to perform again. [I Am: Celine Dion, the documentary featured in this interview, premieres June 25 on Prime Video.]
Rumours of an Olympic performance started simmering after an April interview with Vogue France, in which she said, “The way I see it, I have two choices. Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it’s over: I stay at home, listen to my songs, stand in front of my mirror and sing to myself.
“I’ve chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!”