After much talk and speculation during the Basel hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, Switzerland’s 1988 winner Céline Dion has now confirmed she WAS intending to perform during the Grand Final before withdrawing on health grounds.
Céline Dion reveals the truth behind last minute withdrawal from Basel performance
In a documentary for Céline Dion’s 30th anniversary for the album, D’eux the Canadian singer confirmed to Le Parisien that she was in Basel during Eurovision week in May.
Earlier this year, media speculation on Céline’s possible Eurovision comeback reached fever pitch. Of course, Eurofans of a certain vintage will remember she became an international superstar following her victory in the 1988 contest with, ‘Ne partez pas sans moi’. Throughout the week, rumours circulated of secret rehearsals and the arrival of a private jet. Even the Eurovision Director Martin Green hinted at a possible appearance:
“Father Christmas exists, and you’ll have to wait and see.”
Now the former Eurovision winner has revealed that a health scare forced a last minute withdrawal from performing her famous Eurovision winning hit. Since 2022 Céline has been living with a condition called Stiff-person syndrome. This rare neurological condition causes mobility issues and chronic pain, which has had a significant impact on Céline’s music career. Shortly before performing, Céline suffered from a seizure, forcing her to cancel her Eurovision appearance and fly back to Las Vegas.
Despite this set-back, the 57-year-old singer did feature in a special video aired during the first Semi-Final.
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