Kelly Clarkson was left speechless and in tears after Céline Dion's breathtaking comeback performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 26.
As the hot-air balloon-inspired Olympic cauldron was lit and floated into the sky, Dion sang Édith Piaf's classic Hymne A L'Amour in a dazzling white Dior haute couture gown at the base of the Eiffel Tower, with the Olympic Rings illuminated above her head.
As Dion performed, Clarkson, who was part of the NBC broadcast team covering the event, alongside Mike Tirico and Peyton Manning, visibly moved to tears.
"Wow! Céline Dion, who has been dealing with a rare progressive neurological disorder, and has not appeared very often, performing in public, with... a performance fitting of this amazing night,” Tirico noted.
While Clarkson squeaked out,” "I actually can't talk,” as Tirico added, “That was incredible."
"That was really beautiful. People don't know her story. What she's been going through physically... it's just incredible what she's overcome and have that moment,” Clarkson agreed.
Clarkson hailed Dion as a "vocal athlete" and "incredible", with sniffling and a shaking voice.
However, Clarkson wasn't the only NBC personality moved by Dion's performance, Today show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb were also captivated, watching in awe as Dion sang.
The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony marked Céline Dion's first performance since revealing her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in August 2022.
