Latest news with #StiffPersonSyndrome
Gulf Today
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Celina Dion skips Eurovision contest
The 69th Eurovision Song Contest was held at Basel's St. Jakobshalle, packed with 6,500 excited ticket-holders dressed to the nines while 36,000 others watched a live transmission in a nearby stadium. An estimated 160 million people across Europe and beyond were expected to tune in for the annual TV spectacle, where kitsch, glam and spectacular staging go hand in hand. Twenty-six countries were in contention, with 11 having been eliminated in the semi-finals during the week. Basel had been abuzz all week with rumours that Celine Dion might make an emotion-laden appearance as she battles Stiff Person Syndrome. The Canadian superstar, now 57, launched her international career by winning Eurovision 1988, while competing for Switzerland. But in the end, she did not appear. "We have been in contact with her through various channels and regret that ultimately it was not possible to include her in the show," Eurovision organisers told AFP. "We send her all our best wishes and, above all, good health." Sweden had long been the bookmakers' hot favourite to win in Basel with the comedy trio KAJ's sauna song "Bara Bada Bastu". But they finished fourth ahead of Italy, Greece and France as JJ scooped up the microphone-shaped trophy. Albania, Ukraine and Switzerland rounded out the top 10. Agence France-Presse
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Eurovision fans devastated as Celine Dion fails to appear despite series of huges clue amid her crippling health battle
EUROVISION fans were left devastated as Celine Dion failed to appear at tonight's grand final - despite a series of huge clues. Canadian superstar Celine, 57, who famously won the contest for Switzerland in 1988, had been widely anticipated to perform live at St. Jakobshalle in Basel. It would have marked her first public stage appearance in almost a year amid her ongoing battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder. The singer had even jetted into Basel ahead of the show - but, as the four-hour extravaganza came to end, viewers shared their disappointment that she didn't appear. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "I can't believe I sat through 4 hours of this for Celine to no show." Another said: "Imagine waiting all night to see Celine Dion and she doesn't even come on." Someone else added: "I had myself convinced Celine was going to be there, ffs." A fourth joked towards the ceremony's end: "Just cancel the damn votes and bring on Celine Dion!! I can't take this haha." Celine has kept a low profile in recent years while undergoing treatment for the condition, which affects the brain and spinal cord and causes severe muscle stiffness and spasms. Her team previously confirmed she had cancelled all remaining tour dates to focus on her health, with no immediate plans to return to performing. However, commentator Graham Norton had teased during the BBC One broadcast that he was hopeful she would be there. The Sun also told this week how her private jet left Paris for Switzerland Thursday morning. Eurovision fans in tears as Celine Dion makes surprise appearance after health battle At the time of publication, negotiations were still ongoing and the potential performance had been up in the air due to her turbulent health. Celine has struggled to sing since she revealed her health struggles in December 2022, although she did give a rare performance at the Paris Olympics last summer. A Eurovision insider said: 'The team have been talking to Celine about appearing or performing at the ceremony for months and it has been very up and down. "At one point this week, it looked like she would not be attending, but now it is looking far more likely she will be there. "Rehearsals have gone ahead without her, but everyone is crossing their fingers. 'It'll be down to the wire.' Celine sent a video message, shown during Tuesday's semi-final, which appeared to indicate she would not be travelling to the event from her Las Vegas home. The My Heart Will Go On singer said: 'I'd love nothing more than to be with you in Basel right now. Winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988 was a life-changing moment for me. 'Music unites us. It is our strength, our support... in times of need.' What is stiff person syndrome? Stiff person syndrome or SPS is a condition caused by persistent spasms. This usually involves multiple muscles, primarily the lower limbs, experts at University College London say. Most people who develop the illness will receive a diagnosis from the ages of 40-60-years-old. It's a neurological disease with features of autoimmune conditions. The first signs would be intermittent spasms which then become continuous. Other symptoms include: Minor sensory stimuli (being more sensitive to noise, light and touch) Severe spasms Impaired breathing (in advanced cases). The experts said that spasms don't usually occur during your sleep. How is it treated? In most cases people with SPS respond to high doses of diazepam, which is often used as anti anxiety medication. Pain relievers will also improve the symptoms but these will not cure the disorder. Many people with SPS will experience falls because they lack defensive reflexes, experts at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke added. 3 3
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Eurovision fans devastated as Celine Dion fails to appear despite series of huges clue amid her crippling health battle
EUROVISION fans were left devastated as Celine Dion failed to appear at tonight's grand final - despite a series of huge clues. Canadian superstar 3 Eurovision fans were left devastated as Celine Dion failed to appear at tonight's grand final Credit: Getty It would have marked her first public stage appearance in almost a year amid her ongoing battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder. The singer had even jetted into Basel ahead of the show - but, as the four-hour extravaganza came to end, viewers shared their disappointment that she didn't appear. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "I can't believe I sat through 4 hours of this for Celine to no show." Another said: "Imagine waiting all night to see Celine Dion and she doesn't even come on." read more on CELINE Dion Someone else added: "I had myself convinced Celine was going to be there, ffs." A fourth joked towards the ceremony's end: "Just cancel the damn votes and bring on Celine Dion!! I can't take this haha." Celine has kept a low profile in recent years while undergoing treatment for the condition, which affects the brain and spinal cord and causes severe muscle stiffness and spasms. Her team previously confirmed she had cancelled all remaining tour dates to focus on her health, with no immediate plans to return to performing. Most read in Music However, commentator Graham Norton had teased during the BBC One broadcast that he was hopeful she would be there. The Sun also told this week how her Eurovision fans in tears as Celine Dion makes surprise appearance after health battle At the time of publication, negotiations were still ongoing and the potential performance had been up in the air due to Celine has struggled to sing since she revealed her health struggles in December 2022, although she did give a rare performance at the Paris Olympics last summer. A Eurovision insider said: 'The team have been talking to Celine about appearing or performing at the ceremony for months and it has been very up and down. "At one point this week, it looked like she would not be attending, but now it is looking far more likely she will be there. "Rehearsals have gone ahead without her, but everyone is crossing their fingers. 'It'll be down to the wire.' Celine sent a video message, shown during Tuesday's semi-final, which appeared to indicate she would not be travelling to the event from her Las Vegas home. The My Heart Will Go On singer said: 'I'd love nothing more than to be with you in Basel right now. Winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988 was a life-changing moment for me. 'Music unites us. It is our strength, our support... in times of need.' What is stiff person syndrome? Stiff person syndrome or SPS is a condition caused by persistent spasms. This usually involves multiple muscles, primarily the lower limbs, experts at Most people who develop the illness will receive a diagnosis from the ages of 40-60-years-old. It's a neurological disease with features of autoimmune conditions. The first signs would be intermittent spasms which then become continuous. Other symptoms include: Minor sensory stimuli (being more sensitive to noise, light and touch) Severe spasms Impaired breathing (in advanced cases). The experts said that spasms don't usually occur during your sleep. How is it treated? In most cases people with SPS respond to high doses of diazepam, which is often used as anti anxiety medication. Pain relievers will also improve the symptoms but these will not cure the disorder. Many people with SPS will experience falls because they lack defensive reflexes, experts at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke added. 3 Celine did send in a video message for an earlier semi-final Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 It would have marked her first public stage appearance in almost a year Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Eurovision fans devastated as Celine Dion fails to appear despite series of huges clue amid her crippling health battle
The Sun previously told how her potential performance had been up in the air due to turbulent health Star Missed Eurovision fans devastated as Celine Dion fails to appear despite series of huges clue amid her crippling health battle Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EUROVISION fans were left devastated as Celine Dion failed to appear at tonight's grand final - despite a series of huge clues. Canadian superstar Celine, 57, who famously won the contest for Switzerland in 1988, had been widely anticipated to perform live at St. Jakobshalle in Basel. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Eurovision fans were left devastated as Celine Dion failed to appear at tonight's grand final Credit: Getty It would have marked her first public stage appearance in almost a year amid her ongoing battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder. The singer had even jetted into Basel ahead of the show - but, as the four-hour extravaganza came to end, viewers shared their disappointment that she didn't appear. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "I can't believe I sat through 4 hours of this for Celine to no show." Another said: "Imagine waiting all night to see Celine Dion and she doesn't even come on." Someone else added: "I had myself convinced Celine was going to be there, ffs." A fourth joked towards the ceremony's end: "Just cancel the damn votes and bring on Celine Dion!! I can't take this haha." Celine has kept a low profile in recent years while undergoing treatment for the condition, which affects the brain and spinal cord and causes severe muscle stiffness and spasms. Her team previously confirmed she had cancelled all remaining tour dates to focus on her health, with no immediate plans to return to performing. However, commentator Graham Norton had teased during the BBC One broadcast that he was hopeful she would be there. The Sun also told this week how her private jet left Paris for Switzerland Thursday morning. Eurovision fans in tears as Celine Dion makes surprise appearance after health battle At the time of publication, negotiations were still ongoing and the potential performance had been up in the air due to her turbulent health. Celine has struggled to sing since she revealed her health struggles in December 2022, although she did give a rare performance at the Paris Olympics last summer. A Eurovision insider said: 'The team have been talking to Celine about appearing or performing at the ceremony for months and it has been very up and down. "At one point this week, it looked like she would not be attending, but now it is looking far more likely she will be there. "Rehearsals have gone ahead without her, but everyone is crossing their fingers. 'It'll be down to the wire.' Celine sent a video message, shown during Tuesday's semi-final, which appeared to indicate she would not be travelling to the event from her Las Vegas home. The My Heart Will Go On singer said: 'I'd love nothing more than to be with you in Basel right now. Winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988 was a life-changing moment for me. 'Music unites us. It is our strength, our support... in times of need.' What is stiff person syndrome? Stiff person syndrome or SPS is a condition caused by persistent spasms. This usually involves multiple muscles, primarily the lower limbs, experts at University College London say. Most people who develop the illness will receive a diagnosis from the ages of 40-60-years-old. It's a neurological disease with features of autoimmune conditions. The first signs would be intermittent spasms which then become continuous. Other symptoms include: Minor sensory stimuli (being more sensitive to noise, light and touch) Severe spasms Impaired breathing (in advanced cases). The experts said that spasms don't usually occur during your sleep. How is it treated? In most cases people with SPS respond to high doses of diazepam, which is often used as anti anxiety medication. Pain relievers will also improve the symptoms but these will not cure the disorder. Many people with SPS will experience falls because they lack defensive reflexes, experts at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke added. 3 Celine did send in a video message for an earlier semi-final Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Eurovision fans predict huge kick off from Graham Norton after snub
Eurovision viewers were in awe as Celine Dion made a surprise appearance at the grand final of the annual singing competition Fans of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest were over the moon when it was rumoured Celine Dion could be making a surprise appearance at the grand final. The 57-year-old singer, who won Eurovision in Dublin in 1988, has faced difficulties with her singing abilities since disclosing her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022. However, throughout the night, BBC host Graham Norton has been speaking on his desire for the star, who managed a rare performance at the Paris Olympics last summer, to appear on stage. Earlier this week, rumours swirled on whether the My Heart Will Go On singer would be at Eurovision when her private plane departed from Paris for Switzerland yesterday morning, marking 37 years since her victorious performance for the country with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi. Graham was clinging on to hopes of a Celine cameo, telling BBC viewers he still in his 'heart of hearts' believed she would be making an appearance before the results are announced. Earlier in the contest, Graham teased an appearance from the icon that is Celine Dion. In the flag parade (what feels like years ago), our Graham mentioned the fact the My Heart Will Go On singer is watching backstage but didn't rule out a little performance from the Eurovision legend. Fans noticed Graham's hopes for Celine as they rushed to social media to joke about the situation. One user said on X: "Someone pls get me a compilation of Graham Norton begging for Celine Dion on #Eurovision2025 he is so obsessed." "New game take a shot everytime Graham Norton mentions Celine Dion #Eurovision," another posted while one said: "I actually think Graham Norton is gonna kick off if Celine Dion doesn't show up #Eurovision." A source close to Eurovision previously revealed to The Sun: "The team have been talking to Celine about appearing or performing at the ceremony for months and it has been very up and down." "At one point this week, it looked like she would not be attending, but now it is looking far more likely she will be there. Rehearsals have gone ahead without her, but everyone is crossing their fingers. It'll be down to the wire." While in Las Vegas, Celine sent a video message to Eurovision, which was aired during Tuesday's semi-final, hinting that she might not make it to the event. Celine said in the short video: "Dear Eurovision family and contestants, I'd love nothing more than to be with you in Basel right now. Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's a country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary. "Winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988 was a life-changing moment for me, and I'm so thankful for everyone who supported me. "Now, 37 years later, it's so beautiful and emotional to see Switzerland winning and hosting this incredible event once again. To the people of Switzerland, thank you for your love. This night is yours, and I hope you feel as proud as I do."
