“Outfits I can’t wait to wear again… Who else is excited for summer?” — Céline Dion just posted a series of photos that left social media stunned. In the photos, taken in Cape Town in 2008, the diva of “My Heart Will Go On” wore a daring cut-out swimsuit, sunbathing on a yacht with a radiant expression. Just hours after posting, the throwback photos went viral, surprising fans who saw that the 57-year-old star still shone as brightly as she did in her prime. But what made the post even more shocking: these are rare images of Céline after she had to temporarily leave the stage due to the extremely rare disease Stiff-Person Syndrome — a disease affecting only about 1 in 1 million people. A swimsuit, a summer… and a message that led fans to believe Céline Dion might be preparing for something bigger: the comeback the whole world has been waiting for.
Céline Dion Poses in a Flirty Cutout Swimsuit in Sunny Throwback Photos: ‘Excited for Summer’
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Céline Dion is ready to slip back into summer mode.
The legendary singer is dreaming of the warmer days ahead and shared an Instagram post on March 4 about it. In her carousel, the “My Heart Will Go On” artist, 57, included throwback photos taken from 18 years ago. She can be seen lounging on a boat, soaking up the sun in a bright blue one-piece V-neck bathing suit with spaghetti straps and waist cutouts. Her golden hair is pulled back in a bun, and she wears oversize sunglasses.
“Outfits I can’t wait to wear again… Who else is excited for summer?” she captioned the images taken in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2008.
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Dion went on a break from the stage back in 2023, announcing that May that she was “unable to successfully prepare for and perform the remainder” of her 2024 tour dates because of her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis. A source told PEOPLE that the “goal” was for her to get back on the road again, but only once she was on the mend, adding that the priority for the French-Canadian musician was “focusing on her health.”
Dion was diagnosed with the condition in August 2022. She told PEOPLE that she immediately began a rigorous treatment plan involving medication, immune therapy, vocal therapy and intense physical rehabilitation five days a week. Dr. Amanda Piquet, the physician who diagnosed Dion, explained that the singer’s treatments alone are a “full-time job,” adding that she is “incredibly motivated and determined.”
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She later announced the news to the world on Instagram. “Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological condition called stiff-person syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people,” she said. “While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know that this is what has been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having.”
In a later cover story with PEOPLE, Dion shared how her life was going “down, down, down” because of her health. “I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to stay onstage. I wanted to be brave instead of smart. That was wrong.”
She returned to the Grammys in 2024, wearing a romantic floor-sweeping gown and coat styled by Law Roach. She presented Taylor Swift with the Album of the Year award.
This past December, Dion took to Instagram with a sweet message thanking her fans for their support. “As we welcome this new year, I want to take a moment to send you all my love. May this year bring you good health, happiness and peace in your heart,” she said. “I hope you find laughter in the little things, strength in the hard times and joy in the memories you create with those you love.”
Amid her recovery, the Grammy winner has been keeping in touch with everyone on social media, where she’s been posting content the influencer way. A particularly hilarious video was posted to TikTok was about all the everyday essentials she carries in her Dior tote bag. Some items were valid (a hand cream, hand sanitizer and Mentos), while others, not so much. Further in the clip, she began pulling out miscellaneous items like a microphone and her own VIP badge, all in the name of humor.
