Celine Dion closed the opening ceremony with her first performance since announcing her 2022 diagnosis of stiff person syndrome.
Dion sang French singer Edith Piaf's “Hymne amore” on stage at the base of the Eiffel Tower.
Lady Gaga kicked off her Olympic Opening Ceremony performance by singing Gigi Jeanmaire's “Mon Truc En Plumes” on the steps of the Seine.
Surrounded by pink feathers, Gaga's brief stage appearance was reminiscent of her jazz and piano residency in Las Vegas and also seemed to pay homage to Jeanmaire's performance of the song on The Ed Sullivan Show. After descending the stairs, Gaga performed a chorus line and played piano.
The opening ceremony is one of the most ambitious ever. It will be led by artistic director Thomas Joly and take place along the Seine River. Olympic officials kept the performers largely secret ahead of the event.
In an Instagram post, Gaga expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and praised Jeanmaire, while also sharing her love for France and its culture.
“Though I am not a French artist, I have always felt a special connection to French people and singing French music. I was keen to create a performance that would warm the French heart, celebrate French art and music and remind everyone of one of the most magical cities on earth – Paris – on such a monumental occasion,” she wrote in the caption.
One of the most popular contemporary French artists, the Malian-French pop star Aya Nakamura, also performed on Friday.
Dion and Gaga were spotted out in Paris this week, causing a stir on social media.
Dion has been open about how stiff-person syndrome has affected her ability to control her vocal cords and sing.
The neurological disorder causes stiffness in the torso and limbs and can lead to severe muscle spasms, which she experienced in a documentary called “I Am: Celine Dion” released in June.
Dion performed at the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, singing “The Power of the Dream” with composer David Foster and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
