Celine Dion is ready to share her story. The music legend, who has been out of the spotlight in recent years due to illness, is the focus of a new documentary from Amazon MGM Studios. I Am: Celine Dion will give viewers an inside look at Dion’s life with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).
“I was diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder, and I wasn’t ready to say anything before,” she says in the trailer. “But I’m ready now.”
In January 2024, when plans for the film were first announced, Dion said in a statement, “This last couple of years has been such a challenge for me, the journey from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not to let it define me. As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realized how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans. During this absence, I decided I wanted to document this part of my life, to try to raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis.”
SPS is a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and “greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The symptoms can lead to difficulty walking or performing everyday tasks.
Dion announced her condition to the public in December 2022. In a since-deleted video posted to her Instagram, she shared the news of her diagnosis and explained that she’d have to cancel the rest of her world tour.
“Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I am used to,” she said at the time. “It hurts me to tell you today this means I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.”
Ahead, everything to know about I Am: Celine Dion.
When does I Am: Celine Dion come out?
According to Amazon MGM Studios, the official worldwide release date as June 25, 2024. The documentary will be streaming exclusively on Prime Video.
Is there a trailer?
Yes! On May 23, Prime Video released a two-minute trailer.
“My voice is the conductor of my joy,” Dion can be heard saying in the footage. “When your voice brings you joy, you’re the best of yourself. I need my instrument.”
At the end of the video, after admitting that she misses performing and her fans, she tearfully says, “If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl.”
According to Prime Video, the Irene Taylor-directed film “gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illness. Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.”