Fans camp outside hotel as Céline Dion prepares for Paris comeback

Hundreds of Céline Dion's fans have been gathering outside her Paris hotel each day, hoping for a glimpse of the Canadian star before her long-awaited, sold-out shows begin this weekend. Many wait for hours, some overnight, behind metal barriers to catch sight of her leaving for rehearsals.

Among them is 52-year-old Noëlla Lamy, who travelled from her village near Amiens and planned to spend 36 hours on the pavement. She described Dion as a symbol of bravery and resilience, saying she has followed the singer's career since childhood and that Dion's music helped her through the loss of her husband.

Dion, 58, revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare and incurable autoimmune disorder. The condition has caused muscle spasms severe enough to break her ribs. A 2024 documentary about her life detailed the toll of her illness, including a seizure she experienced.

A devoted French fanbase

While Dion is globally best known for her 1997 song from the film Titanic, one of the best-selling singles by a woman in music history, in France she is celebrated chiefly for her French-language catalogue. Her 1995 album D'eux remains the best-selling Francophone album ever released. In 2024, she performed an Edith Piaf song from the Eiffel Tower during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

Dion has made a habit of greeting fans outside the hotel, sometimes dancing along with the crowd. The pavement has turned into an informal gathering spot, with workers in a neighbouring office building playing her songs from their balcony. She has said she is limiting other outings in Paris to conserve energy for the performances.

Other fans present included a cosmetics chemist named Marina and retired café worker Sylvie Lugans, who said Dion's openness about her illness has made her feel more relatable and has moved many of those following her recovery.