A week of rumours has now been put to rest after Eurovision Song Contest legend Celine Dion failed to make an appearance during this year’s Grand Final.
The 2025 music event was held in Basel, Switzerland, with hundreds of thousands flocking to the city to get a slice of the action this week.
Alas, one of the things they were hoping for the most failed to come to fruition.
My Heart Will Go On star Celine was reportedly set to perform at the 69th ESC final, with plenty of hints being dropped in recent days.
Celine was only 20 years old when she won Eurovision in Dublin in 1988, representing Switzerland with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.
The victory kickstarted her global success, so it’s no surprise people assumed she’d return to celebrate the contest’s homecoming.
But as the final proceeded across four hours of coverage, hope started to wane among those watching at home, as well as BBC commentator Graham Norton, who repeatedly expressed his need for her to perform.
The Irish comedian joked that there would’ve been ‘no point’ in housing over 30,000 fans to watch the final live from St. Jakob-Park, where a huge box was erected in the centre, if Celine was not going to be singing on top of it.
But, well, it seems that was the case.
Once it became clear that the Power of Love singer wasn’t there, viewers took to X to share their disappointment, having been optimistic for as long as possible but finally accepting reality once the votes were read out.
‘WHERE IS CELINE DION!!!!!!’, wrote @macheloune.
Joking about Graham’s earlier comments, @trevorsbrady wrote: ‘“my dreams ending” crying at the fact graham gaslighted himself into thinking celine dion was gonna appear’.
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‘i feel for Graham Norton. every time he says “celine dion” like he’s trying to manifest her i think he wants it more than anyone in the world’, tweeted @JodiePortugal.
‘whoever started the rumour that celine dion might sing tonight, i’m in your walls’, said @chezgwendolyn.
Her absence comes after the global superstar’s private jet was reportedly spotted in Switzerland—but with no sign of her in it.
Earlier this week, it was also said that conversations were still very much ongoing.
On Tuesday afternoon, Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR released a statement as an update, sharing with fans: ‘There are currently no changes regarding Celine Dion—we are still in close contact with her.’
Meanwhile, the 57-year-old singer shared a heartfelt message reflecting on her own triumph and success in a clip aired during the first semi-final, followed by a beautiful rendition of her winning song performed by previous Eurovision stars, including Silvester Belt and Iolanda.
The star was quick to declare her sadness at not being able to be in the country for the big night.
Speaking both in French and English, she told viewers that 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.’
Celine also said she would want ‘nothing more but to be with you’ in Basel, as she has taken a step back from performing and making public appearances in the last few years.
The vocal powerhouse was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS) in August 2022, for which she immediately began undergoing intense forms of treatment.
She made a rare musical appearance during the Paris Olympics last year, leaving viewers sobbing as she sang on the Eiffel Tower.
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