5 of the Best Celine Dion Performances of All Time

From her powerhouse vocals to her intense connection to her fans, Celine Dion has made a point of making each performance her best.

For decades, audiences worldwide have enjoyed her consistently impeccable and seemingly never-ending talent, which is what made her health scare with Stiff-Person Syndrome starting in 2022 all the more frightening. As the singer started canceling appearances left and right, we were all forced to face the reality that a world without Dion’s distinct voice would be a quiet place indeed.

Luckily, she’s not putting up the mic just yet. In honor of Celine Dion’s triumphant return to the stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics, we’re taking a deep dive into five of the best Celine Dion performances of all time. (And yes, narrowing it down to five was hard.)

1. “All By Myself” in Memphis, 1997

It’s hard to know where to begin with this truly iconic Celine Dion performance from her 1997 Live in Memphis concert. The gold lamé suit, the hair teased to the heavens, the dynamic and unwavering vocals—the entire rendition of “All By Myself” is quintessentially Dion.

Even beyond the superb musicianship of everyone on stage, this performance displays the euphoric connection Dion has with her fans. Despite the song’s melancholy sentiment, the crowd is beside themselves with elation, and Dion knows exactly how to rile them up with every agile riff and emotional key change.

2. “My Heart Will Go On” at Billboard Music Awards, 2017

“My Heart Will Go On” is easily one of Celine Dion’s most recognizable songs, which makes the fact that Dion didn’t initially want to record the track all the more surprising. Luckily for all of us, she did anyway, and this acquiescence resulted in one of the most enduring power ballads of the late 1990s.

Although Dion has delivered this song countless times throughout her career, one of the most powerful was her rendition at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. With a mature edge to her voice and decades of more experience under her belt, the song took on a whole new meaning, proving that after all this time, she’s definitely still got it.

3. “God Bless America” at A Tribute to Heroes, 2001

Weeks after the terror attack on New York City’s World Trade Center, Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS joined forces to produce “America: A Tribute to Heroes,” a benefit concert raising money for victims, their families, and the city’s emergency responders. Celine Dion took the candle-lit stage to perform her rendition of “God Bless America.”

The Irving Berlin standard is up there with John Stafford Smith’s “Star-Spangled Banner” in difficulty, both because of their unintuitive vocal lines and the fact that audiences have heard the songs countless times and will quickly identify any flubs. The Canadian-born singer offered none to find, performing a beautifully rousing rendition of the classic song as if Berlin actually wrote it just for her.

4. “Falling Into You” in Montreal, 1996

While we most often associate Celine Dion with knock-out bangers, this talented vocalist does far more than belt. Her subdued lower range is just as rich and agile, arguably more so given that most audiences expect her to shout at the top of her range. The contrast between her greatest hits and her softer ballads adds to the overall intimacy of the performance.

Such was the case during a Montreal concert in June 1996. This version of “Falling Into You” might not feature her highest notes or raspiest belts, but it does showcase the unique timbre and effortless vibrato (and love of graceful arm movements onstage).

5. “Think Twice” at Live for Peace: A Royal Gala, 1995

The paradox of singing is that the better you are, the easier you make it look. While an expressive wince or snarl can add a bit of flair to a vocal performance, some of the most impressive vocalists can deliver technically complex lines without even so much as an eye crinkle—and Celine Dion is the perfect example of this type of singer.

Her rendition of “Think Twice” at Live for Peace: A Royal Gala in 1995 is a powerful testament to her ability to riff at the uppermost and bottom-most part of her range with seemingly no trouble at all. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at 3:22, where Dion delivers a stunning, growling vocal line while hardly changing her facial expression.

Photo by Larry Marano/Shutterstock