Celine Dion Dispels Wheelchair Rumors With Rare Public Appearance

Fans of Celine Dion heave a sigh of relief upon a recent sighting as the singer's handshakes steal the spotlight.

The award-winning singer has made a rare public outing since she announced her battle with a painful medical condition, and the internet is buzzing. Dion canceled all her upcoming tour dates and scheduled performances last year to focus on her journey toward recovery. 

The "My Heart Will Go On" singer attended a hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Monday. Dion looked dapper as she entered the locker room to congratulate her home team on their impressive performance.

The pop star kept it sporty in a beige two-piece and a cream puffy jacket paired with stunning white sneakers and gold jewelry. She kept her blonde locks in a sleek ponytail, as seen in a clip on the team's official Instagram page where she exchanged pleasantries with the team's head coach, Martin St. Louis.

Dion's long handshake with the coach was super firm as she said, "It was such an honor to meet you," to which Louis replied, "My goodness, me too," adding that he watched her perform for the pope at the Montreal's Olympic Stadium in 1984.

The star was accompanied by her sons, whom she shared with her late husband and manager, Rene Angelil. Fans quickly rushed to the comment section to comment on Dion's agility despite her serious health condition.

"I am happy to see you're better now Celine ❤️☺️," commented one user who was glad to see her well, as another joked, "Handshake so long ..Kirby almost came back from his injury lmaooo."

"That handshake lasted until the sixth overtime," another Instagram user wrote, as one more fan agreed, "That was the longest handshake ever recorded."

This interesting sighting comes a few days after Dion's sister, Claudette, dismissed rumors of the singer using a wheelchair to move around. The rumors started in September following a viral YouTube video titled "Celine Dion's Family Reveals How She Is Dying" that spread to TikTok and Twitter.

Claudette added that her sister is strong and not depressed as they continue to treat her Stiff Person Syndrome as she said, "she really has the joy of living. We will get through this. Why do they say she is in a wheelchair? Why do they say she had cancer? Why are you inventing?"

As we reported, she had earlier disclosed the "All By Myself" singer's struggles with the disease including multiple muscle spasms and pain, but she stated that Dion is aware of her fans and family's unwavering support.

While news of her in a wheelchair may be false, Dion did cancel her proposed "Courage" world tour to tend to her health. The star shared the news on social media with her massive fanbase in an emotional post announcing that she scrapped 42 European dates. In her words:

"I'm so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I’m working hard to build back my strength, but touring can be difficult even when you’re 100%. It's not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, we should cancel everything now until I’m ready to be back on stage again."

Dion's unavoidable decision left her teeming fans and music lovers who had planned to attend the shows bitter. She, however, apologized to everyone affected, adding that there would be a quick refund via the original point of sale.

The "I'm Alive" singer was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022. The disease is a neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system. SPS symptoms include muscle stiffness and painful spasms that occur in the limbs, trunk, and other body parts. They are often triggered by emotional distress or sudden movements.

In the video announcing her diagnosis, Dion disclosed that the disease has made it challenging for her to sing the way she was used to and added, "I've been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it's been tough for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I've been going through."