Celine Dion makes acting debut and releases new single after stiff person syndrome diagnosis

Céline Dion has returned to the music industry with a bang. The five-time Grammy Award winner has released her single "Love Again" for the upcoming movie of the same name, making it her first song since being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome. "NEW TRACK ALERT!" her team wrote in an April 13 Instagram post.

In addition to providing the title track from the motion picture, Dion will star as herself, alongside Sam Heughan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas, making this her film debut. According to E! News, "Love Again" and the four other tracks featured in the film mark Dion's first new music since the 2019 studio album "Courage."

"I had a lot of fun doing this movie," Dion said in a press release. "And to have the privilege of appearing with the beautiful and talented actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan in my first feature film is a gift I will cherish forever. I think it's a wonderful feel-good story, and I hope people will like it and like the new songs too."

The film features 11 songs from the 55-year-old singer-songwriter, described as being "woven into the narrative of the film and its characters," reports Fox News. According to an official synopsis from Sony Pictures Releasing, "Love Again"—directed by James C. Strouse—follows Chopra and Heughan as Mira and Rob, who meet after Mira sends romantic texts to her late fiancé's old phone number, "not realizing the number was reassigned to Rob Burns' new work phone."

"A journalist, Rob is captivated by the honesty in the beautifully confessional texts," the synopsis adds. "When he's assigned to write a profile of megastar Céline Dion, he enlists her help in figuring out how to meet Mira in person... and win her heart." Speaking to PEOPLE, Chopra Jonas shared that she was excited to do the film—which she calls "our ode to Céline."

She added: "I think having new music from her is such a blessing in this movie." Heughan remarked that Dion was "very good" and that he was "surprised about how funny she was" in the film, in which she "plays an integral part" in Rob's storyline. "Her music, in a way, brings my character and Priyanka's character together. But who better to do that than Céline Dion?" he added.

Dion's acting debut comes four months after her diagnosis with the rare neurological disorder stiff-person syndrome. "I've been dealing with problems with my health for a long time," Dion said in a December 8 video, "and it's been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I've been going through."

She revealed that the condition causes her to experience muscle spasms. "Unfortunately, the spasms affect every aspect of my daily life," she continued. "Sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I'm used to."

The "My Heart Will Go On" singer added that she has a "great team of doctors" and is surrounded by a loving family and that her children, René-Charles, 22, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 12, have supported her in her journey. Dion noted that her condition has resulted in taking a hiatus from her decades-long music career.

"All I know is singing," she noted. "It's what I've done all my life, and it's what I love to do the most. I miss you so much. I miss seeing all of you. Being on the stage, performing for you. I always give 100 percent when I do my shows. But my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now. 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. This is my focus, and I'm doing everything that I can recuperate."