At the opening ceremony of the Olympics, Celine Dion made her first performance after revealing her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome in 2022. She sang “L’Hymne à l’amour” by Édith Piaf from a stage at the base of the Eiffel Tower.
Lady Gaga started the ceremony with a performance of Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc En Plumes” on a set of stairs by the Seine River. Surrounded by pink feathers, Gaga’s performance was reminiscent of her Jazz and Piano residency in Las Vegas and appeared to pay tribute to Jeanmaire’s performance of the song on the Ed Sullivan Show. After descending the stairs, Gaga joined a chorus line and played the piano.
The opening ceremony is one of the most ambitious to date, headed by artistic director Thomas Jolly and taking place along the Seine River. Olympics officials largely kept the performers under wraps ahead of the ceremony. In an Instagram post, Gaga expressed gratitude for the opportunity and celebrated Jeanmaire. She also showed her love for France and the culture of France
“Although I’m not a French artist, I have always felt a strong and meaningful connection with the people of France and their beautiful tradition of singing French music.” My greatest desire was to deliver a performance that would touch the hearts of every person in France, honoring their rich culture and music.” On such a significant occasion, my aim was to remind everyone of the enchanting and timeless beauty of Paris,” she passionately expressed in her caption.
French-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura, one of the most popular contemporary French artists, also performed Friday.
Dion and Gaga caused a social media frenzy when they were seen in Paris this week. Dion has been open about how stiff-person syndrome has affected her ability to control her vocal cords and sing. This neurological disorder causes rigidity in the torso and limbs and can lead to severe muscle spasms. In June, she released a documentary called “I Am: Celine Dion” that shows her experiencing a debilitating muscle spasm. In 1996, Dion performed at the Olympic opening ceremony in Atlanta, singing “The Power of the Dream” alongside composer David Foster and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
