Céline Dion was reportedly forced to pull out of a planned surprise appearance at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland.

The 57-year-old singer, who has faced ongoing health issues connected to her battle with stiff person syndrome, had been expected to perform Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, the song that won Eurovision for Switzerland in 1988.

According to French newspaper Le Parisien, Céline was present in Basel for the contest but suffered a medical episode that stopped her from performing.

Although her appearance had been kept under wraps, presenter Graham Norton hinted at the possibility during the live show, fuelling speculation among viewers.

Céline has spoken openly about her health challenges since she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in December 2022.

The rare neurological illness causes severe muscle spasms and rigidity, often leaving those affected with severe mobility problems.

In her 2023 Prime Video documentary I Am: Céline Dion, she described how deeply the condition has impacted her daily life.

Céline said: “I could barely walk at one point, and I was missing living very much.

“My kids started to notice. I was like, ‘OK, they already lost a parent. I don’t want them to be scared.

“I let them know, ‘You lost your dad, but mum has a condition and it’s different. I’m not going to die. It’s something that I’m going to learn to live with.”

Her illness forced her to cancel her scheduled world tour in 2023 and step away from live shows while undergoing intensive treatment and physiotherapy.

She has explained that even basic activities, such as climbing stairs or singing for long stretches, have become extremely difficult.

The Canadian star, who has sold more than 200 million albums globally, had hoped her return to Eurovision would be a symbolic first step back to the stage.

Instead, fans were left disappointed when she did not appear in the final line-up in Basel.

Céline first achieved international fame after her Eurovision win in Dublin in 1988 and went on to build one of the most celebrated careers in music, with hits including The Power of Love, Because You Loved Me, and My Heart Will Go On, the Oscar-winning theme from Titanic in 1997.