Music fans were thrilled to see Céline Dion return to the public eye earlier this summer for a performance during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, her first since revealing her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022. And recently, fans were even more excited to see her again in a surprise appearance at a charity event in Los Angeles.
The Canadian singer attended the City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala in downtown Los Angeles on October 22, where she presented the Spirit of Life Award to Jay Marciano, CEO of the event and entertainment company AEG Presents for his philanthropic efforts with cancer research. Before presenting the award, Céline, whose late husband René Angélil passed from cancer in early 2016, shared a moving speech about the inspiring efforts of the City of Hope organization.
“The City of Hope is so well-named,” Céline said, according to Variety. “It does so much more than the important research leading to new treatments. It provides care to people in their greatest time of need…it provides the most precious ingredient of all: It provides hope.”