Celine Dion Makes Surprise Appearance at Hockey Game amid Battle with Stiff Person Syndrome

Canadian music icon Celine Dion has made a rare public outing at a hockey game in Las Vegas amid her battle with stiff person syndrome.

Shortly after she made a surprise appearance at the Grammys in February, the 55-year-old music icon attended the Edmonton Oilers game and spent time with the players in the locker room.

In footage recently shared by the team's official Instagram account, she had the team cracking up when she imitated the players in their skates and equipment. Her outing at the game was one of her rare public appearances amid her battle. 

The five-time Grammy winner’s appearance comes after she revealed in December 2022 her diagnosis of Stiff-Person Syndrome, a rare condition marked by uncontrolled and severe muscle spasms that affects one in a million individuals.

“As you know, I’ve always been an open book. And I wasn’t ready to say anything before,” she said in a Dec. 8 video. “But I’m ready now… ’I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through.”

After explaining her symptoms and how her team concluded her diagnosis, Dion added, “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life. Sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to. I have to admit it’s been a struggle. All I know is singing, it’s what I’ve done all my life.”

As a result, Dion’s 2023 tour dates were either canceled or pushed back to 2024.