Amazon Prime Preps ‘I Am: Celine Dion’ Documentary, Focusing on the Singer’s Health Struggles
Photo Credit: Prime Video
Celine Dion opens up about her fight with a life-altering illness in Prime Video’s new documentary, ‘I Am: Celine Dion,’ coming June 25.From director Irene Taylor, the Amazon MGM Studios film features footage of a younger Celine Dion at the peak of her career, as well as her current health struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome, with which she was diagnosed in 2022. The trailer for “I Am: Celine Dion” reveals the superstar talking with her fans and sharing vulnerable moments.
Stiff Person Syndrome is an incurable condition resulting in progressive, severe muscle stiffness, which has even impacted Dion’s use of her voice. “I miss it so much, the people. I miss them,” Dion says between footage of her in the recording booth as she battles to return to performing. The singer is undergoing physical and vocal therapy to both regain and retain control of her muscles.
“I’m working every day. But I have to admit, it’s been a struggle,” Dion says in the trailer. She recently opened up about the documentary in a separate interview with Vogue: “It’s not just about vocal exercising and doing Pilates. It’s a rehabilitation physically and vocally, emotionally and spiritually — the whole shebang. And I want this story to be told in a classy way. I respect my fans and myself enough for them to know the full truth.”
Celine Dion revealed she first suspected something was wrong with the way she controlled her voice as early as 2008. But it wasn’t until the pandemic in 2020 when she was forced to take a break from her many tours and a Las Vegas residency that doctors were able to accurately diagnose her illness.The singer hopes the documentary will help others who may have similar symptoms to speak to their doctor to determine if they too have Stiff Person Syndrome. “It took 17 years for me — please don’t wait that long.”
“I Am: Celine Dion” is presented by Amazon MGM Studios and is a Vermilion Films production in partnership with Sony Music Vision and Sony Music Entertainment Canada. The film is directed by Irene Taylor, who also produced it alongside Stacy Lorts, Tom Mackay, and Julie Begey Seureau. Dave Platel, Denis Savage, Shane Carter, and Krista Wegener executive produce. The trailer for the film dropped on Thursday, May 24, with the film available to stream globally starting on June 25.