(1968-)
Who Is Celine Dion?
A star from a young age, singer Celine Dion had recorded nine French albums and won numerous awards by the time she was 18. She delivered her first English-language album, Unison, in 1990. Dion's real breakthrough into pop music stardom came in 1992 when she recorded the theme to Disney's hit animated feature Beauty and the Beast. She went on to record several hits, including four No. 1's: "The Power of Love," "Because You Loved Me," "My Heart Will Go On" and "I'm Your Angel."
Early Life and French Albums
Celine Marie Claudette Dion was born on March 30, 1968, in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada. The youngest of 14 children of Adhemar and Therese Dion, she grew up in a close-knit musical family. Her parents formed a singing group, Dion's Family, and they toured Canada when Dion was still an infant. They later opened a piano bar, where the 5-year-old Dion would perform to the delight of customers.
At the age of 12, Dion recorded a demo tape of a song she had written with her mother. They sent the tape to the manager and producer Rene Angelil, who handled the career of popular French singer Ginette Reno. After hearing the tape and inviting Dion to perform for him in person, Angelil signed her immediately under the condition that he would have complete control over her career. He mortgaged his own home to finance her debut album, La Voix du bon Dieu.
By 18, Dion had recorded nine French albums and won numerous Felix and Juno awards, the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy Award. In 1988, she won the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, Ireland, and her performance was broadcast live in countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Japan. After this taste of international acclaim, she began looking to the south and American stardom.
Dion recorded her first English-language album, Unison, in 1990. Like most of her English-language albums, it was a collaboration with the songwriter-arranger-musician David Foster. Driven by the Top 5 single "Where Does My Heart Beat Now," Unison sold more than one million copies worldwide.
Breakthrough with 'Beauty and the Beast'
Dion's real breakthrough into pop music stardom came in 1992, when she recorded the theme to Disney's hit animated feature Beauty and the Beast, a duet with Peabo Bryson. The song, "Beauty and the Beast," made it to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won both a Grammy and an Academy Award.
It was featured on her second English album, Celine Dion, which became her first gold record in the United States and sold more than 12 million copies internationally. The undeniable success of her self-titled effort, which also includes the hit "If You Asked Me To," which made it to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart, allowed Dion to launch her first headlining tour in the United States.
'The Colour of My Love' and No. 1 Hits
Dion quickly capitalized on her newfound fame, releasing the top-selling The Colour of My Love in 1993. The album showcased the romantic power ballads that Dion had become known for, including "When I Fall in Love," which was featured on the soundtrack for the hit film Sleepless in Seattle, and "The Power of Love," her first single to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1994, Dion merged her personal and professional life when she married Angelil, who was 26 years her senior. Angelil and his second wife had divorced in the 1980s, and, around this same time, he and Dion had begun a romantic relationship. The couple became engaged in 1991 and tied the knot at Montreal's Notre Dame Basilica in an elaborate ceremony that was celebrated throughout Canada.
Dion's international stardom was solidified by her performance of "The Power of the Dream," at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. That same year, her album Falling Into You, including the No. 1 hit "Because You Loved Me" (from the soundtrack to Robert Redford's sentimental 1996 film, Up Close and Personal), won Grammy Awards for album of the year and best pop album.
'Titanic' and 'My Heart Will Go On'
The following year, however, would hold even greater glory for Dion, with the release of the blockbuster film Titanic (1997), starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, for which Dion sang the theme song, "My Heart Will Go On." The film raked in a record number of Oscar nominations (it won 11, including the award for best song), and Dion's ballad became ubiquitous on radio stations around the world.
Included on both the Titanic soundtrack album and Dion's own Let's Talk About Love (1997), "My Heart Will Go On" shot to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100—marking the singer's third No. 1 hit—and sold a combined 50 million records worldwide. Let's Talk About Love also featured collaborations with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Luciano Pavarotti, the Bee Gees and Bryan Adams.
Canadian Diva
Dion received the National Order of Quebec, her province's highest honor, in April 1998. Later that year, she appeared alongside Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan and Shania Twain on the high-profile televised concert Divas Live on VH-1.
While touring relentlessly and recording several albums (including S'il Suffisait d'Aimer and a holiday album, These Are Special Times, both released in 1998), Dion was well-rewarded at the Billboard Music Awards in late 1998, where she won six awards, including for artist of the year and album of the year, for 1997's Let's Talk About Love. Her extensive 14-country tour, which began in the summer of 1998, culminated in a gala concert in Montreal on December 31, 1999, in honor of the new millennium. Dion scored her fourth No. 1 hit with "I'm Your Angel," a duet with R&B singer R. Kelly featured on These Are Special Times.
Family Life and Children
In early 2000, Dion announced that she was taking time off from her career in order to focus on her family. She and Angelil had been trying to have children for years, and eventually decided to use in vitro fertilization to conceive. In May 2000, Dion underwent two small operations at a fertility clinic in New York to improve her chances of becoming pregnant.
Her efforts were successful, and on January 25, 2001, Dion gave birth to a boy, Rene-Charles. She revealed in interviews that she had stored another fertilized egg in the fertility clinic and planned someday to give her son a sibling. On October 23, 2010, at age 42, Dion gave birth to twin boys, Eddy and Nelson. Angelil, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999, was in remission.
Celine Dion attends the UCLA Head and Neck Surgery Luminary Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on January 22, 2014, in Beverly Hills, California.
Global Fame and Vegas Residencies
After a two-year hiatus, Celine Dion returned in March 2002 with A New Day Has Come, which topped the charts in more than 17 countries. A year later, she began a much-hyped 36-month engagement at Caesars Palace, the famous Las Vegas hotel and casino. Dion simultaneously released the album One Heart, which did not fare as strongly as its predecessor.
Dion returned to creating French-language albums with 2003's 1 Fille & 4 Types. Partnering with photographer Anne Geddes, she had a hit with the children's music album Miracle: A Celebration of New Life (2004). In 2007, Dion released two albums: Taking Chances, which nearly reached the top of the pop album charts, and D'Elles, another French-language recording.
While no longer dominating the charts as she once did, Dion remained a popular entertainer. In June 2009, Forbes reported that the singer had earned approximately $100 million the previous year, making her the second-highest earning musician on the magazine's list after Madonna.
Dion's follow-up albums included the French-language Sans attendre (2012) and Encore un soir (2016), as well as Loved Me Back to Life (2013) for English-speaking fans. She also embarked on a long-running residency at Caesar's Palace in 2011.
Health Problems and Husband's Death
In August 2014, Dion canceled all of her shows scheduled through March 22, 2015, to focus on her 72-year-old husband, whose throat cancer had returned, and her children. “I want to devote every ounce of my strength and energy to my husband’s healing, and to do so, it’s important for me to dedicate this time to him and to our children,” the singer said in a statement.
The superstar also dealt with her own health issues in 2014: According to a press release, she had "inflammation in her throat muscles" which prevented her from performing in her Las Vegas show. Dion apologized for "inconveniencing her fans" and thanked them for their support during her hiatus from performing.
In a 2015 interview with USA Today, the singer spoke about her husband's battle with cancer: "When you see someone who is fighting so hard, it has a big impact on you," she said. "You have two choices. You look at your husband who's very sick and you can't help, and it kills you. Or you look at your husband that's sick and you say, 'I got you. I got it. I'm here. It's going to be just fine.'"
On January 14, 2016, Angelil lost his battle with cancer and passed away at the age of 73 in the family's Las Vegas home.
New Tours and Album
Recovering from her loss, Dion returned to the stage for what became an annual summer tour beginning in 2016. She also resumed her Las Vegas residency, before the long-running show concluded in June 2019.
Additionally, the singer sparked rumors that she had rediscovered romance after appearing in public with backup dancer Pepe Munoz, though she insisted that they were merely "best friends."
In September 2019, Dion released three new singles and embarked on a world tour in support of her upcoming album. Fans were thrilled to receive her first English-language studio album in six years, with Courage debuting atop the Billboard 200 that November.
- Name: Celine Dion
- Birth Year: 1968
- Birth date: March 30, 1968
- Birth City: Charlemagne, Quebec
- Birth Country: Canada
- Gender: Female
- Best Known For: French-Canadian singer Celine Dion dominated the pop charts in the 1990s with No. 1 hits like "The Power of Love" and "Because You Loved Me."
- Industries
- Pop
- Astrological Sign: Aries
We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us!
- Article Title: Celine Dion Biography
- Author: Biography.com Editors
- Website Name: The Biography.com website
- Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/celine-dion
- Access Date:
- Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
- Last Updated: March 26, 2021
- Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
- I have decided a long time ago that I wanted to be an open book.
- After everything is said and done, at the end of the day it's about songs.
- In life, if you don't take chances, you'll never know.
- To have success is not hard. To remain the person that you are is the most difficult thing to accomplish... That's my biggest success.
- I want to be professional in my show business life, but I also want to be professional as a mother.
- You can't go back in the past. There are things you can't fix. But you can make things better.
- In terms of music, I can try anything I want, even something that doesn’t work at all, because I’m not putting my career in jeopardy.
- I don't know if the camera likes me, but I do like the camera.
- Don't be so familiar and so much into the details. Keep people dreaming. Close the window, and make them wonder.
FAQs
How big was the age gap between Celine Dion and her husband? ›
The couple initially kept their relationship out of the spotlight because of their 26-year age difference. "We kind of kept it cool because of my career. I was living that love secretly," Dion told PEOPLE in 2016. "When I was at the age to be able to say to people ...
What song did Celine Dion sing at her husband's funeral? ›Celine Dion
As a recording of Dion singing in French her 1984 song “Twenty Minutes Past Three” played on the sound system, Dion — flanked by her 5-year-old twin sons Nelson and Eddy — paused in front of Angélil's casket.
At age twelve, Dion collaborated with her mother and brother Jacques to compose her first song, "Ce n'était qu'un rêve", which was released as a single in Quebec, Canada in 1981.
How many kids did Celine Dion have? ›Celine Dion's Kids: Rene-Charles, Nelson, & Eddy.
Was Celine's husband a gambler? ›Angélil's gambling habits have long been a source of fascination for the media. He claimed he became a professional gambler in the late eighties when Dion took a break from her career to learn English, and that he had a “winning system” for blackjack.
What song did Celine write for her husband? ›When Celine Dion broke down on stage singing 'All By Myself' weeks after losing her husband. Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences humans can go through.
What song is in the middle of a funeral? ›Here are some of the most popular funeral songs:
Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Eric Idle (Monty Python's 'Life of Brian') Time to Say Goodbye – Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. You'll Never Walk Alone – Gerry and the Pacemakers.
"Recovering" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion and released as a single on 9 September 2016. It was written by Pink after Dion's husband, René Angélil, died in January 2016. Entertainment Tonight Canada chose it as one of the best songs of 2016.
What ethnicity is Celine Dion? ›Dion was born in Charlemagne, Quebec, 24 kilometres (15 mi) northeast of Montreal, the youngest of 14 children of Thérèse (née Tanguay, 1927–2020), a homemaker, and Adhémar Dion (1923–2003), a butcher, both of French descent.
Does Celine Dion have twin children? ›
The Canadian singer has three children
Celine Dion's children are growing up so fast and her twin sons have changed significantly. The singer is a proud mom to Nelson and Eddy, 11, and René-Charles, 21, but she rarely shares photos of them.
According to reports, Dion's estimated net worth is $800 million. 2- When did Celine Dion lose her voice? She damaged her voice at a performance on the Incognito tour in 1989.
What is Celine Dion's number one hit? ›My Heart Will Go On
Taken from the soundtrack to Titanic, this is Celine's most successful hit so far, and it went to number one all around the world. It won numerous awards including the Oscar for Best Original Song and five Grammys including Song of the Year.
Singer Celine Dion has announced that she is expecting her second child with husband Rene Angelil, 67.
Where does Celine live now? › How old was Celine Dion when she had her twin? ›Dion, 42, had the twins by Caesarean section shortly after 11 a.m. at a Florida hospital.
What is Celine's illness? ›Originally called stiff man syndrome and later stiff person syndrome because it more frequently affects women, the condition is part of stiff person spectrum disorder, so-called because a small number of people may have other overlapping symptoms such as ataxia (poor muscle control that causes clumsy movements), ...
What is Celines net worth? ›| Name | Celine Dion |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2023) | $820 Million |
| Profession | Canadian singer |
| Monthly Income And Salary | $5 Million + |
| Yearly Income | $60 Million + |
What was Rene Angelil's net worth? Rene Angelil was a Canadian manager, director, and former singer who had a net worth of $400 million at the time of his death. Rene Angélil is probably best known for being the late husband of the massively successful singer Celine Dion.
Did Celine Dion's parents approve of her marriage? ›
1994: An Epic Wedding
They got engaged in 1991, even though their romance was still a secret to the world. But her mother did not immediately approve. "It was very difficult for her," Dion revealed.
At age 12 she came to the attention of impresario René Angélil—whom she eventually married in 1994—and he launched her career with the album La Voix du bon Dieu (1981; “The Voice of God”).
Is Celine still married? ›Celine Dion is an award-winning singer known for her songs “My Heart Will Go On”, “All by Myself” and more. She was married to Rene Angélil for 22 years. Her marriage to Rene is her only marriage to this day.
What song is not sung at a funeral? ›Any song that implies you are pleased about the person's passing, such as Ray Charles' 'Hit the Road, Jack', 'Somebody that I Used to Know' by Gotye and 'Since U Been Gone' by Kelly Clarkson, should be avoided. 'Dead' and 'The End' by My Chemical Romance are obvious no-nos.
What is the oldest funeral song? ›“Hurrian Hymn No. 6” is considered the world's earliest melody, but the oldest musical composition to have survived in its entirety is a first century A.D. Greek tune known as the “Seikilos Epitaph.” The song was found engraved on an ancient marble column used to mark a woman's gravesite in Turkey.
What is the most played song at a Catholic funeral? ›1 – The Lord's my Shepherd
This most popular funeral hymn is based on the words of Psalm 23. The hymn is very well known and has been sung by many at school, and has been sung at many notable Royal occasions.
The "My Heart Will Go On" singer, 53, shared a touching tribute to Angélil — who died at age 74 in 2016 after years of battling throat cancer — on Instagram Friday. The post featured lyrics from her 2019 song "Courage" and a black-and-white photo of Angélil taken by photographer Hans Lambrechts.
How old was Celine Dion when she wrote her first song? ›All of her children were gifted, but Celine was exceptionally so. At the age of 12, she wrote her first song, with the help of her mother and her brother Jacques: "Ce n'était qu'un rêve." But it certainly was not just a dream!
Does Celine Dion have a son? › What did Adele say about Celine Dion? ›Adele said of the seeing Dion play the Colosseum, “It was one of the best shows I ever saw. We need to sing our hearts out extra loud for her tonight, so she can hear us, wherever she is.”
Why does Celine Dion have such a good voice? ›
Celine keeps her larynx neutral while hitting the lower portions of the range. In doing so when she has to hit the Eb5 or above Eb5 region belts, she raises her larynx. This rise gives a throaty and coarse quality to Celine's voice. From A5 to C6 she blends unevenly, due to which the belts become heady and thin.
What song did Ryan Reynolds ask Celine Dion to sing? ›Director David Leitch wanted to create an original song for Deadpool 2 that could support the emotional core of the film, with "Ashes" being the song that was ultimately written. He and actor-producer Ryan Reynolds asked Dion to record the song, and she agreed to do it.
Why is Celine Dion so popular in Jamaica? ›Dion performed a one-time show at the Jamaican Jazz and Blues Festival, breaking the nation's attendance records. Moreover, it is noted that many Jamaican musicians listen to, remix, and cover her music. Several people even call her a Queen and celebrate her birthday as a national event.
Does Celine Dion have a twin sister? ›Celine and her twin sister Aline are indistinguishable, apart from the dress they wear.
What color is Celine Dion hair? ›When it comes to her mane, Dion has tried everything from dark brown hair to a platinum pixie, but in recent years she has settled on a flattering shade of caramel—the perfect middle ground between her natural dark brown hair and an eye-catching blond. Her secret? She uses L'Oréal Paris hair colour, naturally.
Did Celine Dion have infertility? ›Celine Dion's infertility struggle and her long journey of IVF treatments is certainly an inspiring story to read. The 'Titanic' singer had much passion and determination to start and expand her family, but she had to undergo numerous failed attempts at IVF until she finally succeeded.
What does Celine's oldest son do? ›René-Charles Angélil is a musician, like mum Celine Dion
It's safe to say the rapper's music style is a tad different from mum's though.
Earlier this year, tragedy struck twice for Céline Dion in the matter of a week. Just two days after her beloved husband René Angélil died from throat cancer at 73, her older brother, Daniel Dion, 59, followed him, dying of brain, throat and tongue cancer back in Montreal.
What voice type is Celine? ›Although she once identified herself as a mezzo-soprano, Dion is certainly a lyric soprano, with the weight, range, and power to justify a full-lyric classification.
Why did Celine Dion change her voice? ›Fans may notice Dion's powerful voice may sound different in her new songs, which is partly due to SPS affecting the muscles near her vocal cords.
Is Celine Dion one of the best singers in the world? ›
Céline Dion is notoriously known as one of the greatest singers still living today, with five Grammy's under her belt, multiple Vegas residencies, and being one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Who has the #1 hit of all time? ›- My Heart Will Go On [Let's Talk About Love] – 523,000. ...
- Because You Loved Me [Falling Into You] – 282,000. ...
- The Power of Love [The Colour Of My Love] – 189,000. ...
- It's All Coming Back to Me Now [Falling Into You] – 185,000. ...
- I'm Alive [A New Day Has Come] – 128,000. ...
- Ashes [Orphan] – 124,000.
Céline Dion and René Angélil's love will always go on. The Grammy-winning singer was married to her former manager for 22 years, up until his death from throat cancer in 2016.
How much was Celine Dion's husband worth? ›What was Rene Angelil's net worth? Rene Angelil was a Canadian manager, director, and former singer who had a net worth of $400 million at the time of his death. Rene Angélil is probably best known for being the late husband of the massively successful singer Celine Dion.
Was Celine Dion with René when he died? › How old are Celine Dion's twins now? ›19-year-old Rene-Charles Angelil and 9-year-old twin boys Eddy Angelil & Nelson Angelil. In 2020, Celine has been rumoured to be dating 34-year-old Pepe Munoz, but this has yet to be confirmed by the singer.
How much does Celine Dion get paid per show? ›Being seen by over 200,000 people, the residency became the number one show in 2011 (for North America). It made Dion the top earner in Vegas, earning $500,000 a show, and made her the "most profitable music act in Las Vegas" since Elvis Presley.
Who is the richest between Rihanna and Celine Dion? ›- Jennifer Lopez, 53. ...
- Barbra Streisand, 80. ...
- Victoria Beckham, 48. ...
- Gloria Estefan, 65. Estimated net worth: US$500 million. ...
- Beyoncé, 41. Estimated net worth: US$500 million. ...
- Celine Dion, 54. Estimated net worth: US$800 million. ...
- Madonna, 64. Estimated net worth: US$850 million. ...
- Rihanna, 34. Estimated net worth: US$1.7 billion.
Regardless of how much Céline Dion and René Angélil's 1994 wedding cost—it's been reported around $500,000—this one is certifiably lavish for Dion's wedding look alone.
How old was Celine Dion when she first met her husband? ›
How did Celine and René meet? The couple met when the My Heart Will Go On singer was just 12 years old and René, 38, became her manager. Celine opened up to People about her first meeting with her future husband, revealing that her incredible voice reduced him to tears.
How old was Celine Dion when she had her first son? ›The Grammy-winning musician struggled for six years to conceive, before enlisting the help of a fertility specialist and finally giving birth to her eldest son, René Charles, in her early 30s. On trying to conceive again in her 40s, Dion told Good Morning America she wasn't ready to give up.
Did Celine Dion have a son? › Whose child is Celine pregnant with? ›'Overjoyed' Celine Dion pregnant with her second child with husband Rene | HELLO!
What happened to Celine Dion's oldest son? ›Celine signed the note from herself, René, and René-Charles' twin brothers, Nelson and Eddy Angélil. Celine has been raising the three boys as a single mother since René died in Jan. 2016. He had been suffering from throat cancer before his death.