Celine Dion made a rare public appearance at the first Eurovision 2025 semi-final amid her health battles as the Canadian singer delivered a video message to her legion of fans.
The 57-year-old won in Dublin 1988 with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, and Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR confirmed earlier on Tuesday it is still in “close contact” amid speculation she would perform during the final.
At the first semi-final on Tuesday, she delivered a pre-recorded video saying Switzerland has “always held a special place in my heart” as she spoke in French and English.
Dion added: “It’s a country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary, winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988.
“(It) was a life changing moment for me, and I’m so thankful for everyone who supported me.”
She also said she would want “nothing more but to be with you” in Basel as discussions continue with the organisers for her to make a stage comeback on Saturday during the final amid her health issues.
This was before Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi was performed by previous Eurovision stars including Silvester Belt and Iolanda.
Viewers took to social media to share their feeling about the emotional moment.
One viewer posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “QUEEN CELINE IM CRYING #Eurovision.”
Another wrote: “She said “Bisou”, I love you Céline #Eurovision #Eurovision2025.
Since Dion won, Switzerland has not triumphed until Nemo clinched victory with The Code last year at Malmo.
She has stepped away from touring in recent years, because of increasing health issues while living with stiff-person syndrome (SPS).
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she made an emotional come back with Edith Piaf’s classic Hymne A L’Amour while in the Eiffel Tower.
Earlier on Tuesday, Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR said there “are currently no changes regarding Celine Dion – we are still in close contact with her”.
The first semi-final saw Sweden, Ukraine and the Netherlands among the nations to qualify for Saturday’s final.
Dutch act Claude Kiambe, 21, went through with his track C’est La Vie, a blend of English and French that promotes a message of dealing with life as it is, as did the current favourites, KAJ, with the Swedish song Bara Bada Bastu, about Nordic sauna culture.
The first semi-final also saw Estonia’s Tommy Cash with the silly Espresso Macchiato, which referenced typical Italian phrases, as well as Poland’s Justyna Steczkowska with her dramatic Gaja - progress.
Icelandic electronic musician brothers Matthias Davio Matthiasson and Halfdan Helgi Matthiasson, known as Vaeb, qualified with Roa as well as San Marino’s Gabry Ponte with the catchy Tutta L’Italia and Albania’s Shkodra Elektronike with folksy Zjerm.
Portugal’s Napa with the dancey Deslocado and Norway’s Kyle Alessandro with the fiery Lighter were also revealed as going on to the next stage, before Ukraine’s wait was finally over as they found out their group Ziferblat had made it with the song Bird Of Pray.
