Celine Dion needs no introduction. Over the years, she won hearts with her soulful music. Among the many hits, fans of Celine Dion are just crazy about her single, My Heart Will Go On from the iconic film, Titanic. However, Celine’s fans were heartbroken when she revealed that she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2022. This health issue prevented her from appearing on stage.
According to the latest reports, Celine is all set to return to the stage in September 2026 or October 2026. Amid this, people have shown special interest in knowing about Celine’s personal life. Apart from her professional front, Celine has always garnered the spotlight for her personal life. For the unversed, the Canadian singer was happily married to Rene Angelil. However, their marital bliss came to an unexpected halt in 2016, when Rene tragically passed away. If you’re interested in knowing more about Celine’s husband, we’ve got you covered.
Who was Celine Dion, Rene Angelil?
Rene Angelil, who was widely known as the husband of Celine Dion, was born on January 16, 1942, in Montreal, Canada. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, Rene’s mom was from Quebec and was of Lebanese descent, and his father was of Syrian descent. In 1960, Rene formed the musical group, Les Baronets with his friends. Within a span of ten years, from 1962 to 1972, the music group achieved wide success. Meanwhile, Rene also appeared in two feature films, Apres Ski and L’apparition. In 1972, he joined Guy Cloutier’s team of talent agents. In 1981, Rene received a recording of Celine Dion, her first original song. At the time, Celine was just 12. Captivated by Celine’s work, Rene decided to stay beside her and became her manager.
Rene Angelil mortgaged his home to fund Celine Dion’s debut album
When Rene Angelil listened to Celine’s first original song, he was totally impressed by the then-rising talent. Shortly after meeting her, Rene signed Dion. He also proved his dedication to Celine’s talent. Rene, who was Celine Dion’s manager back then, mortgaged his home to fund Celine Dion’s debut album. The album was a quick success in Quebec.
Celine Dion and Rene Angelil shared an age gap of 26 years
When Celine Dion crossed paths with Rene Angelil, she was 12, and he was 38. However, they started dating when Celine was 19. But her mom was not happy with their relationship. The significant age gap was not the only reason behind Celine’s mom’s disapproval of their relationship. Before finding love in Celine, Rene was married twice. From his previous marriages, Rene also had three kids. This was a major reason behind Celine’s mom’s opposition. In a past interview with Access Hollywood, Celine said:
“It was very difficult for my mom. When I told her I had some really strong feelings for Rene, she tried everything to kill him and make me snap out of it. I was very frustrated and mad at first, but she tried to make me understand that this man had tried marriage twice before, he has three children, and he’s not responsible. She said, ‘You’re my daughter, you’re my baby, and I want the perfect Prince Charming for you.’ And then it was so strong that my whole family was in love with him, and she had no choice.”
Inside Celine Dion and Rene Angelil’s married life
Celine and Rene dated secretly for many years. In fact, they also kept their engagement a secret. For the uninitiated, the couple exchanged rings in 1991. Later, in 1993, the duo made their relationship official. On December 17, 1994, Celine and Rene tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. On January 5, 2000, the couple renewed their vows in an Arabian Nights-themed ceremony in Las Vegas. The couple welcomed three children: son, Rene Charles, and twins, Nelson and Eddy Angelil. Just like other couples, Celine and Rene also faced ups and downs in their marriage. Speaking about the same, the Canadian singer once told Vegas Deluxe:
“Rene and I had our tough times. It wasn’t always easy. We had tension between us. It’s never easy being husband and wife, but add to that we are in business together, dealing with all the added pressures of shows, concerts, tours, and travelling. It was hard — a lot of hard work.”
Rene Angelil tragically died due to throat cancer
In 1999, Rene Angelil was diagnosed with throat cancer. Due to Rene’s condition, Celine took a two-year hiatus. Next year, in 2000, Rene was declared cancer-free. In December 2013, a tumour was removed from his throat. In 2014, he was once again diagnosed with cancer. He lost his life after fighting a long battle with cancer on January 14, 2016. He passed away at 73, two days before his 74th birthday. At the time, his representative issued a statement announcing his death. The statement can be read as:
“Rene Angelil passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer. The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment.”
What are your thoughts on Rene Angelil’s contribution to establishing Celine Dion’s career? Let us know.
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