Céline Dion sends message at Eurovision semi-final as Sweden advances to grand final

During the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest held in Basel, Switzerland, legendary singer Céline Dion made a rare pre-recorded appearance, delivering a heartfelt message to fans. Dion, who won Eurovision for Switzerland in 1988, expressed her deep connection to the country and her regret at not being able to attend in person due to health issues related to stiff-person syndrome. The semi-final featured 15 acts, with 10 qualifying for the grand final on Saturday. Among the qualifiers was the Swedish group KAJ, whose humorous accordion-led song ‘Bara Bada Bastu’ (‘let’s take a sauna’) is the bookmakers’ favorite with a 40% chance of winning. If victorious, Sweden would claim its eighth Eurovision title, becoming the most successful country in the contest’s history. Other qualifiers included acts from Norway, Albania, Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine. Notably, Belgium’s Red Sebastian was disqualified on the day of his 26th birthday, ending his promising run. The ‘Big Five’ countries (France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and Italy) along with last year’s winner Switzerland automatically qualify for the final. Organizers remain hopeful that Dion might still appear live at the final. The semi-final performances were diverse and dynamic, featuring acrobatics, emotional tributes, and energetic acts, with KAJ’s sauna-themed song energizing the crowd and standing out as a strong contender. The contest continues to blend musical innovation with cultural expression as it moves towards the grand finale.