Lady Gaga kicked off the performances with a rendition of Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc En Plumes” on a set of stairs along the Seine River.
Surrounded by pink feathers, Gaga’s brief set was reminiscent of her Jazz and Piano residency in Las Vegas. It also appeared to pay tribute to Jeanmaire’s performance of the song on the Ed Sullivan Show.
After descending the stairs, Gaga kicked on a chorus line and played on a piano.
Céline Dion and Gaga sparked a social media frenzy after they were spotted in Paris this week, with many fans speculating that they will perform during Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony.
Olympics officials have largely kept the performers under wraps ahead of the ceremony.
French newspaper Le Parisien reported that Dion would be performing “L’Hymne à l’amour” by the French singer Édith Piaf. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news Wednesday that Gaga would also perform.
Representatives for Gaga and Dion did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Olympics would be the first time that Dion has performed live since she publicly announced that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022. The neurological disorder causes rigidity in the torso and limbs and can induce severe muscle spasms.
Dion has been open about how the disorder has affected her ability to control her vocal cords and sing. She released a documentary in June called “I Am: Céline Dion” that shows her experiencing a debilitating muscle spasm.
Dion performed at the Olympic opening ceremony during the 1996 Atlanta Games, singing “The Power of the Dream” alongside composer David Foster and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
French-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura, one of the most popular contemporary French artists, also performed Friday.
In March, Nakamura faced an onslaught of racist attacks from far-right extremist groups in France after local media reported that she had met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss performing. The organizers of the Paris Olympics came to her defense at the time.
The opening ceremony is among the most ambitious to date. Headed by artistic director Thomas Jolly, the event is being held outside of a stadium for the first time and runs along the Seine River.
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