Celine Dion has reportedly lost control of of her muscles as she battles stiff-person syndrome. Her sister, Claudette Dion gave an update to 7 Jours saying, “She doesn’t have control over her muscles,” according to the translation from French. “What pains me is that she has always been disciplined. She always worked hard.” She added that it is her dream and her sister’s dream to return to the stage one day. “In what capacity? I don’t know. The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. This is what gets me.”

Stiff-person syndrome, or SPS, is a disease that causes “progressive muscle stiffness and painful spasms” that are triggered by environmental factors such as “sudden movement, cold temperature or unexpected loud noises,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Common symptoms of SPS include muscle stiffening and painful muscle spasms. The disease is considered rare and only affects approximately one in a million people. Speaking about the rarity of SPS, Claudette Dion said, “There are some people who have lost hope because it is a disease that is not known. If you only knew how many calls we receive at the Foundation to hear from Céline! People tell us they love her and pray for her. She receives so many messages, gifts, blessed crucifixes.”

The Grammy-winning singer announced her diagnosis in December 2022 in an emotional Instagram video. “The spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to,” Céline Dion said. “I have to admit it’s been a struggle. All I know is singing, it’s what I’ve done all my life.” The singer said that her symptoms included severe muscle spasms, which have caused her issues in the past. Her diagnosis forced her to reschedule and cancel her entire 2023 tour.