Singer Celine Dion has announced that she is postponing several Europe tour dates after being diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder. In a video message on Instagram, Dion, 54, said she has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, which affects “something like one in a million people”. The condition causes “spasms that I’ve been having”, which have made it difficult for her to walk and sing. “These spasms affect every aspect of my daily life,” she said. Stiff-person syndrome is “a rare, progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Symptoms can include “extreme muscle stiffness, rigidity and painful spasms in the trunk and limbs, severely impairing mobility,” the institute says.

Dion has been forced to postpone her spring 2023 shows until 2024, and eight summer 2023 shows have been canceled. The singer said she is working with her medical team to improve her condition and hopes to perform again soon. “I have hope that I’m on the road to recovery,” she said. “This is my focus.” She thanked her fans for their “encouraging wishes of love and support by social media”. “This means a lot to me,” she said. “Take care of yourselves. Be well. I love you guys so much, and I really hope I can see you again real soon.”

Dion, who has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide, has been performing in Las Vegas since 2011, with her current residency set to end in June. She has also announced plans to launch a new Las Vegas residency in December. It is not yet clear whether the diagnosis will affect these plans.

Dion rose to fame in the 1980s, and won five Grammy Awards for her album Falling into You, which sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. She has also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “My Heart Will Go On”, the theme song for the film Titanic. She has been married to René Angélil, who managed her career, since 1994. He died in 2016.