10 Emotional Reveals in I Am Celine Dion

MsMojo

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.”

Transcript

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.

13:15Do you agree with our picks?

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