Celine Dion reveals why she came forward with stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in documentary: 'The lie is too heavy'

The singer talks about her diagnosis in her new documentary, "I Am: Celine Dion."

Celine Dion is shedding light on why she chose to come forward with her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in her new documentary, I Am: Celine Dion. 

The “Power of Love” singer broke down in tears as she explained that she knew it was time to tell her fanbase about her rare neurological disorder, which causes muscle stiffness and spasms, after her daily medication — which included "90 milligrams of Valium" — was not enough to conceal her condition and she began having to cancel performances. 

"I was taking those medicines because I needed to walk. I had to be able to swallow. I needed medicine to function. One more pill. Two more pills. Five more pills. Too many pills. The show must go on,” Dion explained. “When I had to cancel shows, you know, we have to tell people why. Lying — I can’t lie anymore, from a sinus infection to an ear infection, to whatever.”

Related: Céline Dion's heart goes on and on as she battles illness in the trailer for her new documentary

The five-time Grammy winner also revealed some of the techniques that she would use onstage in order to get out of singing a particularly demanding song. 

“Sometimes I would point my microphone towards the audience and I would make them sing it,” she said. “There’s moments where I cheated and I tapped the microphone like it was the microphone’s fault…. There’s also moments where we had to stop the show. Quick change, and I never came back.” 

She added, “The lie is too heavy now.”

Dion announced her diagnosis in an Instagram video in 2022 after previously canceling her 2021 Las Vegas residency and her 2022 Courage World Tour dates. In the clip, which she can be seen recording in the documentary, Dion explains that the disorder affects “something like one in a million people.”

Related: Celine Dion says trying to sing with stiff person syndrome is 'like somebody's strangling you'

“For me to reach you again, I have no choice but to concentrate on my health at this moment, and I have hope that I'm on the road to recovery," she said. "Take care. Love yourself. Be well. I love you guys so much. And I really hope I can see you again soon."

Despite having to cancel tours in the past, Dion remains hopeful that she will return to the stage again someday.

"I'm gonna go back onstage, even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to talk with my hands. I will. I will," she told Hoda Kotb on Today earlier this month. "I am Celine Dion. Because today my voice will be heard for the first time, not just because I have to, or because I need to. It's because I want to. And I miss it."

I Am: Celine Dion is streaming on Amazon Prime Video now.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.