Entertainment
Eurovision boss teases legend’s return 36 years after winning Song Contest-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
We’re keeping our fingers crossed.
Fans are keeping their fingers crossed a megastar could perform at the Eurovision 2025 (Picture: Bruno Torricelli/RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
A Eurovision Song Contest 2025 executive has hinted a global superstar who has history with the competition could be making a comeback decades later.
Preparation for the annual competition is underway after it was revealed it would be taking place in Basel after Switzerland’s entry Nemo swooped to victory last year.
But the question on everyone’s lips is if former Eurovision entry Celine Dion will return after winning for Switzerland in 1988 with French-language song Ne partez pas san moi (Don’t leave without me).
Fortunately, Eurovis-Huns presenters Lee and Luis asked Moritz Stadler, executive co-producer of Eurovision 2025, exactly that on their Gaydio podcast.
Moritz replied coyly: ‘There’s not a lot I’m able to say. We’re building up a great show. And you are right, Celine Dion is a legend.
‘Are we in touch? Are we trying to get her? I’m not going to tell you right now. I’m sure you understand because you guys need to have a bit of suspense between now and next May.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted Celine’s reps for comment.
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Celine won the Eurovision for Switzerland in 1988 (Picture: Sobli/RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
A Eurovision boss teased Celine could perform at next year’s competition (Picture: Bruno Torricelli/RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Celine recently made a public comeback at the Paris Olympics, her first live performance since she announced her diagnosis with the neurological condition stiff-person syndrome (SPS) almost two years ago.
The 56-year-old had axed her Las Vegas residency due to health concerns in 2021, before revealing her SPS diagnosis in December 2022 and cancelling her Courage World Tour.
At the Olympics, Celine delivered a note-perfect rendition of L’Hymne à L’Amour, made famous by the French singer Edith Piaf, and later said on Instagram it was an ‘honour’ to have been asked to close the prestigious ceremony in front of fans worldwide.
Her return delighted Olympics fans, with X user Paul Bavister among them many saying: ‘The performance of a lifetime from a lady who is unfortunately suffering beyond belief. This is your legacy,.’
Celine recently performed at the Paris Olympics (Picture: AP)
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What is stiff-person syndrome?
Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune movement disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
SPS is characterised by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms. Stiff-person syndrome is extremely rare.
Only about one out of every one million people have been diagnosed with this syndrome. Twice as many women have stiff person syndrome as men. Symptoms can occur at any age but usually develop between ages 30 and 60.
TV critic Scott Bryan also shared: ‘After everything she’s experienced, this is such a wonderful, beautiful thing to see. Celine Dion. An inspiration.’
Next year, the Eurovision semi-finals will take place in Basel on May 13 and 15, 2025 with the Grand Final happening on May 17.
It will be the first time the competition has been held in the German-speaking part of Switzerland after previously being hosted in Lugano in 1956 and Lausanne in 1989.
Basel won out against locations including Geneva and Zurich to secure the spot – and even beat the country’s capital city, Bern.
Nemo won the Eurovision 2024 with song The Code (Picture: Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images)
Swiss entry Nemo, 24, won Eurovision 2024 with song The Code, scoring 591 points in the last competition.
They said in a press conference afterward: ‘I’m mostly just really grateful for this experience and all the friends I’ve made along the way.
‘This was one of the most queer representations we’ve seen at Eurovision which was amazing, I want to shout out all the other queer artists this year.’
The UK’s act Olly Alexander crashed out of the competition in 18th place with just 46 points with single Dizzy.
The Eurovision Song Contest returns to BBC One and iPlayer on May 17.
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