Iconic singer Celine Dion brought the house down in Paris when she returned to the stage for her first headline concert in six years.
Videos by Wide Open Country
The Grammy winner was joined by a raucous crowd of 30,000 attendees who belted out the lyrics during her on-stage return.
Dion, 58, was forced to pause her singing career after being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, which can cause severe muscle spasms, in December 2022.
During her triumphant return to the stage on Saturday in Paris, the "My Heart Will Go On" singer couldn't help but get emotional.
Céline Dion cries as she takes the stage in Paris for her first headlining performance in six years pic.twitter.com/bLDtqinDK7
— Variety (@Variety)
"I promised not to cry," she told the crowd in Nanterre, per CBC.
"Tonight I want to sing for you, for me, for life."
According to the outlet, Dion spoke to the crowd in French and then English. She performed songs across her discography, including 1997's My Heart Will Go On and 1991's titular Beauty and the Beast.
"Finally. It's amazing we're all together. I made a promise. I made a promise to come back. To be back on stage," the singer told the crowd.
"Thank you so much for your support and your patience. If I may say so, I am everything I am because you loved me," she added.
Thousands of Celine Dion Fans Flood the Streets of Paris
Celine Dion's highly anticipated on-stage return in Paris, the opening concert of a 26-show tour, drew roughly 30,000 people at Plénitude Arena.
"It's unreal to be here!" said Elisabeth Landry, a 38-year-old Quebecer who lives near the star's hometown of Charlemagne.
"I was convinced we'd never see her again, especially not embarking on a run of concerts like this."
Thousands more flooded the Paris streets, where the city organized a free, Celine Dion-inspired karaoke night.
The city of Paris organized the Paris Chante Celine, a free, massive open-air karaoke party at Place de la Bataille-de-Stalingrad. With each song, different people take the stage, as the crowd sings along with them.
The free event drew 10,000 fans, who sang through Dion's legendary catalog.
Celine Dion is scheduled for a 16-show Paris residency before traveling for 10 more shows in the spring.
Le Parisien reported in April that 9 million people registered for early access to purchase a ticket.
