Celine Dion is "feeling strong" amid her diagnosis of a rare condition that has kept her away from performing and out of the spotlight.
The icon looked stunning while appearing on the cover of Vogue France, with one cover showcasing her in a pink merino wool maxi coat and another where she poses in an open shirt and mini skirt, per Entertainment Tonight. An Instagram post from Vogue France and Dion give a closer look at the cover, with the caption sharing a quote from the cover story about her excitement for appearing on the fashion magazine as well as her thoughts on what beauty really is.
"I'm very proud that at 55, I've been asked to reveal by beauty," she said. "But what is beauty? Beauty is you, it's me, it's what's inside, it's our dreams, it's today. Today, I'm a woman who is feeling strong and positive about the future. One day at a time."
In the interview with Vogue France, Dion opened up about her battle with stiff person syndrome, a rare and incurable neurological disease that, according to the Stiff Person Syndrome Foundation, can cause muscle spasms, rigidity and stiffness with varying severity and affects the central nervous system. She publicly revealed her diagnosis in 2022.
Dion has been working to "be the best I can be" amid her diagnosis, but she acknowledged that "it's still within me and always will be," per People. She still works on strengthening her body and her voice, telling Vogue France, "Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy." Even with all of her efforts, the question of if she will perform again is one that she doesn't have an answer to.
"I can't answer that... Because for four years I've been saying to myself that I'm not going back, that I'm ready, that I'm not ready," she said. "As things stand, I can't stand here and say to you: 'Yes, in four months.' I don't know... My body will tell me. On the other hand, I don't just want to wait."
She added, "It's morally hard to live from day to day. It's hard, I'm working very hard and tomorrow will be even harder. Tomorrow is another day. But there's one thing that will never stop, and that's the will. It's the passion. It's the dream. It's the determination."
Dion's Vogue France cover story comes months after she made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Grammy Awards in February alongside her eldest son René-Charles Angélil, where she received a standing ovation that she called "very, very touching," per People.
"It was nerve-wracking, but at the same time, a big honor," she said, adding, "That magic. That excitement. To see the fans, to see the crowd. To see show business again. It took a lot, a lot out of me. But my son, René-Charles — R.C. — came and gave me his support."