The 58-year-old singer began opening night of her 26-show residency at Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, France, with her 1998 song “On Ne Change Pas” on Saturday, stopping seconds into the track after becoming visibly choked up. She then completed the song before following it with her 1990s hit Destin. Dion also spent time chatting with fans in French and English.
Thousands of people took part on Friday in a giant karaoke event organized by Paris City Hall, giving fans a chance to sing along to some of Dion’s best-known songs and compete for tickets to her concert.
“Celine Dion’s concert was a huge success and attracted a large audience. Tickets were difficult to get, so many people did not have the chance to attend. That’s why we tried to organize additional events centered on joy and togetherness. Karaoke, of course, creates a deeply personal experience, bringing back memories with friends from our youth or from more recent times,” said Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire.
Dion’s most recent concert took place in March 2020 in New Jersey, the United States. Before this latest show, she had made appearances at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Eiffel Tower and at the 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab fashion show in Saudi Arabia. However, the September 12 concert marked her first full solo concert in six years.
