Celine Dion breaks down in tears in ‘I Am: Celine Dion’ trailer

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Celine Dion is opening up about her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) and her struggle to return to the stage in the trailer for her upcoming Prime Video documentary, I Am: Celine Dion.

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“My voice is the conductor of my life … I see my life and I love every piece of it,” she says in the trailer. She goes on to say she wasn’t prepared to talk about her diagnosis back in 2022, but she’s “ready now.”

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Dion’s incurable condition is rare and causes severe and persistent muscle spasms that can strike without notice.

“It’s not hard to do a show, you know. It’s hard to cancel a show,” she says tearfully. “I’m working hard everyday. But I have to admit, it’s been a struggle. I miss it so much. The people, I miss them. If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. I won’t stop.”

Last month, Dion shared a first-look photo from the film to her Instagram account, promising that the documentary will offer “a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illness.”

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“Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit,” the My Heart Will Go On singer’s team wrote alongside the image which show’s Dion holding up an empowered fist.

Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor, the career-spanning doc will capture the music icon’s “never-before-seen private life” as it “takes viewers on a journey inside Celine’s past and present as she reveals her battle with SPS and the lengths she has gone to continue performing for her beloved and loyal fans.”

“This last couple of years has been such a challenge for me, the journey from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not to let it define me,” Dion, 56, said in a statement. “As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realized how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans. During this absence, I decided I wanted to document this part of my life, to try to raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis.”

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In a separate interview with Vogue, Dion said her rehabilitation has involved all facets of her life.

“It’s not just about vocal exercising and doing Pilates. It’s rehabilitation physically and vocally, emotionally and spiritually — the whole shebang. And I want this story to be told in a classy way. I respect my fans and myself enough for them to know the full truth,” she said.

Dion said that when she was diagnosed with SPS there was a sense of relief in finally knowing what was bothering her after suffering health issues that stretched back to 2008.

“It probably sounds very strange to say this to you, but when I was diagnosed, I was happy. I was finally able to move with the wave, not against it,” she said.

Dion added that she hopes the documentary will encourage her fans to pay attention to their own health.

“I hope that the documentary doesn’t frighten people, but awakens people to SPS. … It took 17 years for me — please don’t wait that long,” she said.

I Am: Celine Dion will debut on Prime Video on June 25.

mdaniell@postmedia.com

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