CELEBRITY
Sightings of Celine Dion and Lady Gaga in Paris in recent days have sparked intense speculation that the stars are set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games this Friday.
Sightings of Celine Dion and Lady Gaga in Paris in recent days have sparked intense speculation that the stars are set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games this Friday.
Aside from French singer Aya Nakamura, the line-up of performers for the ambitious show unfolding on the River Seine is under wraps. Other rumored performers include Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande. Dion, whose life has been severely impacted by stiff person syndrome, has not performed in four years, but has often spoken about her determination to get back on stage in the future.
Sharing footage of a smiling Dion walking in the streets of the French capital on Tuesday, numerous French media outlets questioned whether an Olympics opening ceremony performance was on the cards. French radio station RTL reported that star had landed in a private jet at Le Bourget airport on the outskirts of Paris on Monday evening and was due to spend Tuesday afternoon at a fitting at the Dior fashion house.
The reports followed sightings of Lady Gaga on Monday, including social media images showing her standing by a piano on floating platform on the Seine. Dion, who last performed live in the New York in the spring of 2020, has strong connections with the Olympic games.
In 1996, she performed ‘The Power of the Dream’ at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Olympic games, with the song written and produced specially for the occasion. For this edition, Dion narrated a short video campaign titled L’invincible courage celebrating the courage of athletes on Canada’s Olympic and Paralympian teams.
Rumors that Dion was gearing up for an Olympics comeback have been swirling ever since she appeared on the cover of French Vogue in April. In her cover interview, the star revealed she had undergone a gruelling physical fitness program to regain her strength and health. “I want to be my best self. I want to see the Eiffel Tower again,” she said. Rumors flared again in June when Dion was spotted in New York sporting a T-shirt bearing the slogan Celine Paris.