Celine Dion Breaks Down in Tears During First French Residency Show

Celine Dion’s back to headlining shows … a super emotional moment for the star, who broke down in tears during her performance.

The singer-songwriter took the stage in Nanterre, France, Saturday night -- the first show of her long-awaited residency.

Fans showered Celine with applause when she first took the stage ... and, clearly, it meant the world to her -- because she started crying while motioning gratefully to show the audience she appreciated their support.

Ever the consummate performer, Celine quickly moved on from the emotional moment and focused instead on performing hit after hit for the crowd.

CD played all the classics ... "The Power of Love," "All By Myself" and -- of course -- "My Heart Will Go On."

Of course, Celine has performed sporadically over the years — including making an iconic appearance at the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics — though she’s been mostly unable to perform.

As we’ve reported, Celine has stiff person syndrome … a disorder which -- according to Johns Hopkins Medicine -- is "a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that causes severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms." Her diagnosis forced her to cancel her "Courage World Tour."

She detailed her struggle in depth during her documentary "I Am: Celine Dion" ... which she released a few weeks before she played at the Olympic Games.