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Celine Dion wept tears of joy on Saturday as she fulfilled her dream of returning to the stage after years battling a rare neurological disorder, with a sell-out concert in Paris.

The 58-year-old French Canadian singer appeared visibly moved as she opened her first full concert in six years with her 1990s French-language ballad “On ne change pas” (“One Doesn’t Change”), singing to a crowd of 30,000 enthralled fans that one newspaper said included US former first lady Michelle Obama.

“These are, of course, tears of joy. I’m so delighted to see you,” Dion said, blowing kisses to the audience at the packed Plénitude Arena on the western edge of Paris.

Her return to the stage underscored a remarkable comeback after Stiff Person Syndrome, an incurable condition that causes stiffness and cramps, forced her to cancel shows and cast years of uncertainty over whether she would ever perform again.

“The path was rockier than expected,” she said, speaking in French and English.

“But I held on to a faint ray of light in the distance, deep in the mountains.”

“Tonight, I want to sing for you, sing for myself, sing for life,” she added.

The largely female crowd sported sequined dresses and tops, glittered cheeks, and T-shirts emblazoned with the star’s image or nods to her biggest hits.

Just hours before, one of the best-selling singers of all time greeted admirers outside her luxury hotel a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe.

Paris spared no effort in welcoming Dion, drawing thousands of fans from across the world, including some who flew in from as far away as the French Polynesian island of Tahiti.

For days, Paris played host to costume contests, giant karaoke parties and tribute cruises on the Seine.

On Friday, the iconic cauldron rose above the Tuileries Garden, echoing the diva’s surprise appearance up the Eiffel Tower to perform “Hymn to Love” by Edith Piaf during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024.

A lyric from the song, “I’d go and fetch the moon if you asked me to”, along with the singer’s first name, was projected in big letters onto the balloon.

The suburban train station serving the arena has been temporarily renamed “Celine.”

French daily Le Parisien said the former first lady of the United States was “discreetly attending this first concert”.

Dion has regularly stepped outside the Royal Monceau hotel to greet waiting fans, at times breaking into song and dance with them well into the early hours.

Recall that over her four-decade career, Dion has sold around 260 million albums in English and French, with hits including “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” and “Because You Loved Me”.

Dion revealed in late 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, an autoimmune condition that can cause severe muscle stiffness and agonising spasms.

Dion has described it as making her feel as though she is being strangled, with cramps so intense they have left her with broken ribs.

She has returned to the stage after what she has described as years of training “like an athlete”, doing ballet and Pilates several times a week, as well as voice therapy.

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Nigerian musician Stephen “Papi Urhobo” Ebihor has died following a severe illness.

Urhobo Worldwide, a digital community and cultural platform that promotes Urhobo heritage, music, traditions and unity, announced his death in a statement posted on its Instagram page on Tuesday.

The platform did not disclose when Papi Urhobo died or provide details about the illness that claimed his life.

It also appealed to his fans and members of the public to avoid circulating unverified reports, particularly about his death and burial arrangements.

Urhobo Worldwide said the musician’s family would announce the burial date and other details in an official statement at a later time.

The statement read: “With profound sadness, we acknowledge the passing of our dear brother, friend, colleague, and fellow entertainer, Stephen Ebihor Aka Papy Urhobo.

We kindly appeal to the public, friends, colleagues, and fans to refrain from sharing unverified information or details about his burial arrangements until the family makes its official statement.

“The family will communicate with the public at the appropriate time. We appreciate everyone for the love, prayers, and support, and we urge friends and members of the public to put the wife and children he left behind in prayers at this difficult time. May Papy’s soul rest in perfect peace.”

Although the circumstances surrounding Papi Urhobo’s death remained unclear, the singer had earlier revealed that had an accident.

In a video he posted on Instagram on 29 July, Papi Urhobo said the accident left him with a cracked bone and prevented him from walking.

He appealed to Nigerians for financial assistance to pay for surgery, saying the treatment would help him walk again.

In another video posted on 2 August, he gave an update on his condition and thanked those who had contributed towards his medical expenses.

Meanwhile, Papi Urhobo’s wife also appealed for financial assistance to support her husband’s treatment.

In a video posted on the Facebook page of Ossai Success, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Delta State Governor, in August, she called on Nigerians to help raise money for the medical examinations required before doctors could perform the surgery.

She said her husband needed a scan or X-ray before the hospital would admit him for the procedure.

Papi Urhobo gained prominence for his distinctive vocals on Timaya’s 2007 hit, “Ogologomma”, where his performance became one of the song’s memorable elements.

The song was a track on Timaya’s debut studio album, “True Story.”

The Delta State-born musician built a reputation for his powerful voice and contributions to early Nigerian dancehall and Afropop recordings.

Papi Urhobo brought elements of his Urhobo musical heritage into his sound, combining the traditional influence with contemporary Nigerian rhythms and giving his vocal performances a distinct character.

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…as Thailand government begins investigation

A cosmetic clinic in Bangkok, Thailand, is under investigation following the death of Nigerian content creator Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo, who died less than a day after undergoing a penis enlargement procedure.

Ubiribo, a Nigerian socialite and influencer based in London, died on March 6 after receiving hyaluronic acid penile filler injections at the unnamed clinic. According to Westminster Coroner’s Court inquest records obtained by PEOPLE, a post mortem and toxicology examination found that his death was caused by the hyaluronic acid injection and a pulmonary embolism.

The development prompted Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health to order an investigation into the clinic on September 7. Authorities said Ubiribo began receiving treatments at the facility in 2024 and had undergone five penile enlargement injections before his death
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According to the clinic’s management, a doctor had advised Ubiribo before his final procedure on March 5 to split the treatment into two sessions. However, he requested that the entire injection be carried out in one session.

Hours after the procedure, Ubiribo reportedly complained of chest pain before collapsing. He was rushed to a local hospital for a CT scan but lost consciousness before it could be performed. Medical personnel performed CPR for 101 minutes, but he was pronounced dead at 1:05 a.m. on March 6.

Thai authorities inspected the clinic on September 7 to determine whether it complied with medical standards. The clinic maintained that Ubiribo had signed consent forms before each treatment, received aftercare instructions and had never complained about complications from previous procedures.