Celine Dion Reveals Her Battle with Rare Neurological Disorder, Stiff Person Syndrome: 'Somebody is Strangling Me'

Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada Canada
Celine Dion revealed her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in a series of interviews.
Dion continues to share her story in hopes of raising awareness about this little-known condition.
Dion first experienced symptoms in 2008 but was not diagnosed until 2022. She has had to cancel her Las Vegas residency and recent Courage World Tour due to the debilitating effects of SPS.
SPS affects approximately one-to-two people out of every million, causing rigidity in the torso and limbs, as well as severe muscle spasms that can cause falls.
SPS causes severe muscle spasms that affect various parts of the body, including the throat, making it difficult for individuals to control their voices and enunciate words clearly.
Celine Dion Reveals Her Battle with Rare Neurological Disorder, Stiff Person Syndrome: 'Somebody is Strangling Me'

Celine Dion, the renowned Canadian singer, has revealed in a series of interviews that she is living with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder. In her conversations with Hoda Kotb on NBC's Today show and other media outlets, Dion described the condition as feeling like 'somebody is strangling you' when she tries to sing or speak.

Stiff Person Syndrome causes severe muscle spasms that can affect various parts of the body, including the throat. This makes it difficult for individuals with SPS to control their voices and enunciate words clearly. For Dion, this condition has significantly impacted her singing career.

The singer first began experiencing symptoms in 2008 while on tour but was not diagnosed until 2022. Since then, she has had to cancel her Las Vegas residency and recent Courage World Tour due to the debilitating effects of SPS. Dion receives therapy five days a week for the condition and is unsure if she will be able to perform again.

SPS affects approximately one-to-two people out of every million, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Symptoms include rigidity in the torso and limbs, as well as severe muscle spasms that can cause falls. The spasms can occur at random or be triggered by certain stimuli, including loud noises, touch, and emotional distress.

Despite the challenges she faces with SPS, Dion remains optimistic and continues to share her story in hopes of raising awareness about this little-known condition. Her documentary 'I Am: Celine Dion,' which will be released on Amazon Prime Video on June 25, offers a glimpse into her life with SPS and the impact it has had on her career.


Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image

Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • I cannot confirm the exact date when Celine Dion was first diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome.
  • It is unclear if there have been any recent developments in her treatment or progress.

Sources

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Celine Dion shares how stiff-person syndrome affects her voice: 'It's like somebody is strangling you'

NBC News Digital Friday, 07 June 2024 15:52
  • Unique Points
    • Celine Dion revealed in an interview that singing with stiff-person syndrome feels like someone is strangling her larynx and pharynx.
    • Stiff-person syndrome affects Celine Dion’s ability to make her voice higher or lower, causing spasms.
    • The condition can also cause intense spasms throughout her body that have broken ribs for Dion.
    • Approximately one-to-two people out of every million have stiff-person syndrome.
    • Symptoms include rigidity in the torso and limbs, as well as severe muscle spasms that can cause falls.
  • Accuracy
    • Muscle spasms can affect various parts of the body including the throat, making it difficult to speak or sing.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Céline Dion Describes the Effect Stiff-Person Syndrome Has on Her Voice: 'Like Somebody's Strangling You'

People Magazine Friday, 07 June 2024 15:52
  • Unique Points
    • Celine Dion has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare and incurable neurological disease.
    • Muscle spasms can affect various parts of the body including the throat, making it difficult to speak or sing.
  • Accuracy
    • The condition affects the central nervous system and can cause debilitating muscle spasms.
    • Dion’s stiffness can feel like it’s locked into place and she has broken ribs due to severe spasms.
    • The disease can cause chronic anxiety and pain, sometimes disabling individuals and preventing them from working or caring for themselves.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Celine Dion: Singing With Stiff Person Is Like Somebody Strangling You

Variety Ellise Shafer Friday, 07 June 2024 13:11
  • Unique Points
    • Celine Dion was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022.
    • Stiff Person Syndrome causes severe spasms that have broken ribs for Celine Dion.
  • Accuracy
    • Stiff Person Syndrome causes progressive muscular stiffness and spasms that can affect various parts of the body, including the throat, spine, ribs.
    • The syndrome has prevented Celine Dion from touring and caused her to stay largely out of the spotlight.
    • Celine Dion demonstrated to Hoda Kotb on Today how Stiff Person Syndrome affects her throat by pressing inward on it and speaking in a breathy, restrained tone.
    • Stiff Person Syndrome can cause severe spasms that can break ribs.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Celine Dion Says Singing With Stiff-Person Syndrome Feels “Like Somebody Is Strangling You”

The Hollywood Reporter Etan Vlessing Friday, 07 June 2024 13:56
  • Unique Points
    • Celine Dion has a chronic health battle with stiff-person syndrome.
    • Doctors diagnosed Dion with stiff-person syndrome in 2022.
  • Accuracy
    • Stiff-person syndrome affects Dion’s muscles in her abdomen, ribs, and spine.
    • The condition results in severe muscle stiffness that is progressive and incurable.
    • Dion first noticed difficulty controlling her voice as early as 2008.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Céline Dion says singing with stiff person syndrome is 'like somebody is strangling you': EXCLUSIVE

NBC Today Show Friday, 07 June 2024 15:54
  • Unique Points
    • Céline Dion has stiff person syndrome, a neurological condition that causes stiffness and muscle spasms.
    • Dion cancelled her Las Vegas residency and recent Courage World Tour due to the condition.
    • She is unsure if she will be able to perform again.
  • Accuracy
    • ]Celine Dion has stiff person syndrome, a neurological condition that causes stiffness and muscle spasms.[
    • The disorder affects her ability to sing and control her voice.
    • Dion first noticed symptoms in 2008 during a tour.
    • She has been receiving therapy five days a week since then, working on her toes, knees, and voice.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication