She's only one Celine Dion, but even she's only human. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at the most emotional reveals from the documentary “I Am: Celine Dion.”
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00:00Here we go. On your left. And on your right.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:07And today, we're looking at the most emotional reveals from the documentary, I Am Céline Dion.
00:12I thought you were going to ask me a very easy question, and that's not an easy question for me to answer.
00:18Early signs of SPS.
00:20It was only a couple of years ago that the public learned Céline Dion was living with stiff person syndrome, or SPS,
00:26an autoimmune neurological disorder that's estimated to affect one in a million people, according to the National Institute of Health.
00:33Despite only recently opening up about her rare diagnosis, Dion had been experiencing symptoms nearly 17 years earlier.
00:40I woke up one morning and I had my breakfast, and after having my breakfast, my voice started to go up.
00:49During her Taking Chances world tour in 2008, Dion started suffering from spasms.
00:54As a result, she struggled to control her muscles, most notably her vocal cords.
01:00If every string of my notes are strings, for example, like elastic, like, down, the next time that I would try, I would go, and the third time.
01:16This baffled medical professionals for years, most likely due to the condition's uncommonness.
01:22It wasn't until August 2022 that Dr. Amanda Piquet officially diagnosed Dion with SPS.
01:28Although Dion quickly sought treatment, there's no cure for SPS.
01:32It's in the muscle, it's in the tendons, it's in the nerves.
01:37You can't see anything, because it's not seeable.
01:42Feeling isolated.
01:44COVID-19 has sparked numerous conversations about isolation.
01:48Since the pandemic peaked, many of us have ventured back into the outside world.
01:52Although Dion returned to the spotlight in 2021, it would be short-lived.
01:57Shortly after receiving her diagnosis, Dion didn't leave her home for two years.
02:02I can't just do whatever I want. I can't go out. I'm stuck.
02:08This wasn't because Dion felt too sick to go out in public.
02:12While she needed time to rehabilitate, Dion feared that if people saw her socializing,
02:17they'd argue that she wasn't, quote, that sick.
02:20In the documentary, Dion discussed the psychological impact SPS has had on her.
02:25Music. I miss it a lot.
02:32It's understandably a source of struggle, but her loved ones have helped lighten the load a bit.
02:37She's maintained a strong support system through her children and pets.
02:41Don't worry about a thing.
02:47Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.
02:52A warehouse of memories.
02:54Few performers have rocked more iconic looks throughout the decades than Celine Dion.
02:59She's donned enough designer ensembles to fill an entire warehouse.
03:02We're not exaggerating when we say that.
03:05A piece like this, or a piece like that, or a dress like this.
03:09It's difficult to wear again because it had such a big impact.
03:14The documentary follows her to a literal warehouse lined with familiar outfits,
03:19some of which have only been worn once.
03:21In addition to priceless dresses and shoes, Dion has stored a plethora of suitcases,
03:26Christmas decorations, furniture, and much more.
03:29The warehouse is essentially a museum that encapsulates Dion's life.
03:34Not just her life, but also her children's.
03:36Every piece I remember and I know.
03:43And I cherish.
03:47They were important, they're still important.
03:49Dion held on to their first toys, old drawings, and other childhood mementos.
03:54It's a charming walk down memory lane.
03:56Alas, Dion notes that even walking is getting hard for her.
04:00I was losing my balance a lot.
04:04It was hard to walk.
04:10A lot of pain.
04:11Devastated about canceled shows.
04:14It's not hard to do a show, you know.
04:16It's hard to cancel a show.
04:18Dion's Courage World Tour ended abruptly in March 2020 after only 52 performances.
04:24As COVID wound down, she hoped to resume the tour by spring 2022.
04:29During January of that year, though,
04:31Dion announced that her North American performances had been canceled.
04:35While Dion cited, quote,
04:44As you know, I've always been an open book.
04:50And I wasn't ready to say anything before.
04:56But I'm ready now.
04:58As her condition continued to take its toll,
05:00Dion was forced to cancel her European dates in May 2023,
05:04officially ending the tour.
05:06Although Dion had to do this for her health,
05:08it wasn't an easy decision.
05:10Dion felt as if she had let her fans down,
05:12expressing remorse to everyone who bought a ticket.
05:15They had the right to come to me and say, hey.
05:21In addition to living with SPS,
05:23the documentary reflects on Dion's upbringing.
05:25Even before she was born,
05:27music played an essential role in Dion's life,
05:30bringing her mother and father together.
05:32Adémar and Thérèse Dion had 14 children,
05:35one of whom is known worldwide.
05:52Despite working hard,
05:53feeding 16 mouths would be a challenge for any parent.
05:56Dion recalled when the family had no food in the house
05:59other than some dough and carrots.
06:01Thérèse thus made carrot pie,
06:03hoping that her children wouldn't find the dish questionable.
06:14In any case, Dion never saw her mother
06:16as anything less than a superhero.
06:18Thérèse was and still is an inspiration to Céline.
06:22While her family as a whole helped shape her
06:24into the performer she is.
06:26We only felt love, affection, attention, music.
06:32I have that in me.
06:37This is my greatest foundation.
06:40A gift from her late husband.
06:42The last five years have been difficult.
06:44I took care of my children after their father's death.
06:47The great love of my life, my husband René.
06:50In 1994, Dion married her long-time manager René Angélil.
06:54They remained together until 2016
06:57when throat cancer claimed Angélil's life.
06:59Outside of archival footage,
07:01the documentary doesn't delve deep into Angélil's death.
07:04In one of the most bittersweet moments though,
07:06Dion shares a necklace that her late husband gave her.
07:09No, it's not the heart of the ocean,
07:11but it's just as valuable.
07:13Maria Callas is one of the most renowned opera singers
07:16who ever lived.
07:17Dion idolizes Callas,
07:19even paying tribute to her through La Diva
07:21on her 2007 album, Del.
07:32Angélil gifted Dion a necklace that once belonged to Callas.
07:36This is much more than a piece of jewelry to Dion.
07:39It's a symbol of strength that Dion hopes rubs off on her.
07:47Too ill to perform.
07:49Dion attempted to hide her declining health,
07:52sometimes having the audience sing lyrics to give her voice a rest.
07:55She would also tap on her mic,
07:57making it seem as if technological issues were to blame.
08:10Dion was heavily medicated during this period,
08:13at one point taking 90 milligrams of Valium daily.
08:17She acknowledged this was a dangerous amount
08:19that could have ended her life.
08:21Nevertheless, Dion felt she couldn't walk,
08:23talk, or perform other basic functions without medication.
08:33Even then, Dion lacked the adrenaline needed
08:36to get her through performances.
08:38Dion did everything in her power
08:40to uphold the saying,
08:41the show must go on.
08:42For the show to go on though,
08:44Dion eventually had no choice
08:46but to step away from the spotlight.
09:02Coming forward about condition.
09:08I was diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder
09:11called the stiff person syndrome,
09:14which affects something like one in a million people.
09:20Aside from the struggles of SPS,
09:22keeping her condition under wraps
09:24weighed down on Dion physically and mentally.
09:27As Dion saw it, she had been quote,
09:29lying to her fans,
09:31and she couldn't bear to keep such a heavy secret
09:33from them any longer.
09:34I can't lie anymore.
09:39From a sinus infection to an ear infection to whatever.
09:46Almost a year after first publicly alluding
09:49to her health troubles,
09:50Dion revealed that she had been diagnosed with SPS
09:53in December 2022.
09:55Her tearful announcement proved difficult,
09:57but it also provided an opportunity for relief.
10:00Although Dion would still be carrying much on her back,
10:03her pain no longer had to remain hidden.
10:06Do we, do we have what we need?
10:11Her seizure.
10:12In what might be the documentary's most stressful moment,
10:16Dion endures an excruciating seizure
10:18during physical therapy.
10:19While Dion has described her condition in great detail,
10:22this is the closest the audience comes to experiencing
10:25her vulnerability, pain, and fear.
10:28Brian, I need you right now.
10:29She's in a crisis.
10:30She's in a crisis?
10:36Just give me the meds, please.
10:38Dion gave her blessing to keep filming,
10:40but director Irene Taylor Brodsky wasn't sure
10:43how she'd respond after seeing a rough cut.
10:45Dion reportedly told her, quote,
10:47don't cut down that scene.
10:49Do you want us to take the cameras out right now?
10:52Are you okay?
10:57I'm okay.
10:58You're okay?
10:59Good.
11:00In the finished cut, the scene lasts several minutes.
11:03That might seem like a long time,
11:05although it's only a fraction of what Dion has been through.
11:08Showing is more powerful than telling.
11:11Through this scene, it's clear that Dion wanted viewers
11:14to see what people with SPS regularly face.
11:17Every time something like this happens,
11:19it makes you feel so embarrassed and so like,
11:25I don't know how to express it.
11:27It's just...
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11:48Only time will tell if Céline Dion ever returns to the stage.
11:51Through this documentary, though,
11:53Dion proudly proclaims that she is not giving up.
11:56After not publicly performing for years,
11:59we see Dion take the initial steps towards singing again.
12:02I haven't sang for two years.
12:05I'm not quite sure if I'm going to be capable of singing.
12:11But I can't live in doubt.
12:13With her first trip back to the recording studio,
12:16Dion demonstrates that she still possesses a one-of-a-kind voice.
12:20At the same time, the session isn't without speed bumps,
12:23as Dion reckons with the limitations attached to SPS.
12:26I'm going to have to switch to head voice
12:28because I don't think it's going to work.
12:31You're doing great, Céline.
12:33Yes.
12:34We haven't heard this for a couple of years.
12:36It feels like music to us.
12:38Whether or not she can hit the notes as she once did,
12:40Dion plans to keep going,
12:42and this documentary is only the beginning.
12:44Shortly before I Am Céline Dion premiered,
12:47she stated,
12:49We have been working so hard to put this show together,
12:51because I'm back.
12:52If I can't run, I'll walk.
12:56If I can't walk, I'll crawl.
13:01But I won't stop.
13:02What did you think of I Am Céline Dion?
13:04Let us know in the comments.
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