Celine Dion had been due to perform at Eurovision earlier this year before being forced to pull out last minute.
In May the 2025 contest took place in Basel, Switzerland, with Austrian entrant JJ being crowned the winner with his song Wasted Love.
In the lead-up to the final, there was mounting speculation that Celine, 57, would take to the stage to mark 37 years since she won Eurovision for the host country in 1988.
After reports that the singer’s private jet had been seen in Basel, a message from her was aired during the first semi-final.
In it she reflected on the contest and how Switzerland ‘has always held a special place in [her] heart’.
‘It’s a country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary, winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988,’ she said.
‘(It) was a life-changing moment for me, and I’m so thankful for everyone who supported me.’
She also went on to share that she wanted ‘nothing more but to be with you’ in Basel.
A special rendition of her song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi was also performed by previous Eurovision stars, including Silvester Belt and Iolanda.
However, during the final, where it seemed all but confirmed she would make a surprise appearance, the same video message was played again, leading many to speculate she’d been unable to perform last minute.
Now, four months on, it’s been reported that she had been set to step up on stage, but ongoing health issues stood in her way.
As part of a new documentary celebrating the 30th anniversary of her album D’eux, Celine has revealed she was in Basel to perform at the Eurovision final but faced a health scare.
French news site Le Parisien, who saw a preview of the film, reported that she was supposed to sing her winning Eurovision song, Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, and that an excerpt was even played in rehearsals.
However, when she arrived at the venue – St. Jakobshalle Stadium – she suffered a seizure, then immediately leaving the venue and flying back to Las Vegas.
Her appearance had been heavily teased by Eurovision organisers, with head of communications Edi Estermann saying a week before the contest: ‘Céline will, of course, always be connected to Swiss Eurovision history and is a part of it.
‘We would love to have her on the show and are in contact with her. But her health comes first. It’s still open for us.’
Celine has been facing significant health issues since being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a neurological condition affecting her muscles, since 2022.
Soon after she was forced to cancel her Courage World Tour and only returned to the stage last year when appearing at the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris.
Last year, Celine detailed the symptoms she faced living with SPS in documentary, I Am: Celine Dion.
She spoke about once having muscle spasms that were so strong they broke her ribs and that living with the condition was ‘like somebody’s strangling you’.
‘It feels like if I point my feet, it will stay in (that position), or if I cook—because I love to cook—my fingers, my hands will get in position.
‘It’s cramping, but it’s like in a position [where] you cannot unlock them.’
What is stiff-person syndrome?
Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune movement disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
SPS is characterised by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms. Stiff-person syndrome is extremely rare.
Only about one out of every one million people have been diagnosed with this syndrome. Twice as many women have stiff person syndrome as men. Symptoms can occur at any age but usually develop between ages 30 and 60.
‘Sometimes when it’s very severe, it can break some ribs.’
Despite Celine’s recent health issues, it was recently reported that she was recovering.
‘She’s doing great, her health is on track and she’s hitting the high notes again,’ a source told RadarOnline.
‘She’s gently rehearsing at home and continuing with her physical therapy to treat her SPS. She’s moving around pretty good, and her voice sounds wonderful, thanks to all the vocal exercises she’s been doing.
‘People can’t believe she’s doing so well so soon. Of course, she still has her bad days, but she’s getting stronger.’
They added that Celine had a ‘dream’ to be back on-stage next year and was ‘working hard to achieve it’.
‘She’s doing what she needs to speed up her comeback.’
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