Hoda Kotb Says Céline Dion Is Planning Her Return to Performing Live: ‘She’s an Incredible Fighter’

Hoda Kotb seems to know some top-secret information about Céline Dion’s return to the stage.

After sitting down with the “My Heart Will Go On” superstar for an on-camera interview about her experience with stiff-person syndrome in June, the Today host revealed during a July 9 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that Dion’s planning a return to performing live.

“First of all, she’s an incredible fighter. I had no idea what she had been through, how close she came at some point to actually not surviving it,” said Kotb, 59, of Dion, 56. “And yet here she is, and she’s singing again and all those things.”

Hoda Kotb, Celine Dion
Hoda Kotb; Céline Dion. 

The broadcast journalist then recalled “walking around” with the “I’m Alive” singer to capture some final conversational moments following their sit-down chat — and asking the question many fans want to know.

“Her manager was off-camera, and I go, ‘So what’s going on? When are you performing again?’ And she goes, ‘Can I tell her?’ And her manager goes, ‘No!’ He screams, ‘No.’ I was like, there’s something,” said Kotb.

WWHL viewer suggested Dion could deliver a surprise performance during the upcoming Paris Olympics, and Kotb thought the idea would be “spectacular.”

“Céline Dion at the Paris Olympics? That would be amazing, but I don’t know. I know she’s going to be performing live again, though. I don’t know where,” she explained.

Celine Dion attends the "I Am: Celine Dion" New York special screening at Alice Tully Hall on June 17, 2024 in New York City.
Céline Dion in New York City on June 17, 2024. 

Host Andy Cohen said he doesn’t think Dion would do the Paris Olympics because stiff-person syndrome is “something she can’t control,” so it would be difficult to plan a performance on such a strict schedule.

Kotb disagreed. “She’s gonna perform again, and there’s always gonna be a date and time to perform,” she said. “I think she says she’s got a better medical regimen, medicine that she takes.”

“Before, she was just taking things to relax her muscles and was kind of taking way too much. Now, she knows how much she should take and for how long,” she explained. “So, you never know. I mean, if she knows she’s performing at a certain hour, let’s do it.”

Reps for Dion did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Celine Dion is seen on November 14, 2019 in New York City.
Céline Dion in New York City in November 2019.Patricia Schlein/Star Max/GC Images

Dion’s experience with stiff-person syndrome is chronicled in her new documentary, I Am: Céline Dion, available now on Prime Video. Around its release last month, the musician spoke to PEOPLE about how returning to the recording studio for the first time in years was “very, very, very challenging.”

“I don’t want to sound pretentious, but [singing] has never been difficult. I got scared that it was harder. I was like, that’s not supposed to be hard,” said Dion, who refuses to let fear dictate her future. “I have a wonderful coach vocally, and physically [my treatment plan] is making such a difference.”

At the time, she also teased a return to the stage: “We’re talking about putting a show together, and I have so many ideas. I can’t wait.”

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