Celine Dion opens Paris Fashion Week with surprise performance

Celine Dion made a surprise appearance to kick off Paris Fashion Week, performing at the end of L'Oreal's annual show as the French fashion event began, according to the BBC.

The singer's appearance came at the close of the L'Oreal show, one of the events traditionally associated with the opening days of Paris Fashion Week, a biannual showcase for major fashion houses and brands.

The BBC's report did not specify which songs Dion performed or provide further detail on the audience reaction, nor did it say whether her appearance had been publicly announced beforehand or kept as a surprise for attendees.

Paris Fashion Week draws designers, celebrities and media from around the world each season, with headline performances and celebrity appearances often used by brands to generate additional attention around their shows.

Dion, a Canadian singer known for a string of major ballads from the 1990s and 2000s, has in recent years made a number of public appearances following a period during which she disclosed a diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, which had led her to scale back performances.

The BBC did not report whether Dion's Paris Fashion Week appearance was connected to any new music release, tour announcement or other professional project.