LOS ANGELES — Celine Dion made a surprise appearance at the Grammy awards amid her battle with the rare neurological condition Stiff Person Syndrome.

The 55-year-old singer earned a standing ovation as she walked on stage to present the album of the year award.

"Thank you all... When I say that I'm happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart," Dion said.

She presented the prize to Taylor Swift for her album Midnights.

The My Heart Will Go On Singer was helped on to stage by her son to present the night's biggest prize of the year, 27 years after Diana Ross and Stinger presented the prize to her, she said.

"Those who have been blessed enough to be here at the Grammy awards must never take it for granted, the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world," she said.

Dion previously spoke about muscle spasms causing her difficulties when she walks and not allowing her to use her vocal cords to sing in her normal way when she revealed her diagnosis in December 2022 and canceled her Courage World Tour.

The main symptoms of SPS are muscle stiffening and spasming, which can be triggered by environmental stimuli like loud noises and can calm down when the stimulus is gone.

Currently, there is no cure for SPS, but the disease can be treated by methods including the use of muscle sedatives and relaxants.

The star is rarely seen in public since her diagnosis. In November, she made her first appearance in three years, reportedly singing a few notes at a hockey game in Las Vegas.

The vocal powerhouse has sold more than 250 million albums during her 40-year career and has won five Grammy awards. — BBC