We can definitely say that Celine Dion’s voice is one of the finest that we have ever heard. Needless to say, she is surely on the list of greatest singers to have ever graced the industry, possessing a three-octave range, that is, from B2 to E♭6.
Behind The Music: What You Did Not Know About The Life Of Global Superstar Celine Dion
Aside from that, she is gorgeous inside and out, but her life has not been easy. She continues to deal with different kinds of difficulties that we cannot even imagine.
Her Life Was Never Dull
A lot of people admire Celine Dion not just for her talent but also for her resilience. From the start, she has had to overcome many obstacles, and even if she has reached an amazing level of success, things are still not smooth-sailing all the time.
Her Life Is Never Dull
She needed to learn how to manage her career despite a controversial relationship and several health issues. However, Celine Dion never fails to give her best during a performance and look happy.
Her Husband’s Diagnosis
In 1999, Celine Dion received devastating news about her husband. Rene had throat cancer and had to be admitted to hospital. Celine decided to take care of him full time.
Her Husband’s Diagnosis
Although Rene’s health problem was a big trial in Celine’s career, she did everything to help her husband live as comfortably as possible.
Celine’s Mom Hated Her Relationship
From the very beginning, her mother disapproved of her relationship with Rene. Celine said, “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… ”
Celine’s Mom Hated Her Relationship
She explained, “I was very frustrated and mad at first, but she tried to make me understand that this man tried marriage twice before – he has three children, he’s not responsible, ‘I want the perfect Prince Charming for you.’”
She Had Problems Conceiving
Amidst tours and concerts, Celine took a break in the year 2000 for her family. She went through in-vitro fertilization procedures twice to boost her chance of conceiving.
She Had Problems Conceiving
They decided on the procedure after she and her husband had numerous unsuccessful attempts. Finally, they welcomed their first child, whom they named Rene-Charles Dion Angelil, back in 2001.
She Almost Died
When Celine was just 5 years old, she, unfortunately, had a near-death experience. A truck hit her and she was in a coma for one week. It must have been really terrifying for her and her family!
She Almost Died
Thankfully, she made a full recovery after suffering a fractured skull from the accident, but the event must have been traumatizing.
She Hated My Heart Will Go On
Who was not captivated by “My Heart Will Go On” when it started playing in Titanic? Actually, Celine Dion was not quite sold on the song and she thought it would not become popular, even affecting her career negatively.
She Hated My Heart Will Go On
In an interview, she said, “I didn’t really like the song, at first. I did another song for a movie before. It was very successful, and I thought we were pushing our luck.”
They Called Her A Traitor
Another Celine Dion song that became a chart-topper was featured in the animated film Beauty and the Beast. The song earned the singer her first Grammy from, though the track did cause an enormous backlash from Celine’s fans in Quebec.
They Called Her A Traitor
Because of this, she did not accept the award for English Artist of the Year at the Felix Awards. She wanted to show she was proud of being French-Canadian and she stood by her home country.
Celine Wasn’t Planned
Many people are not aware that Celine has 13 older siblings. Their family was financially unstable and her mother did not actually plan on having more children after giving birth to her 13th child.
Celine Wasn’t Planned
Apparently, destiny had something else planned. When Celine was a baby, she slept in a cabinet drawer as there were no more available beds in her family’s house!
Her Husband Put His Foot Down
Rene was instrumental in the recording of “My Heart Will Go On”. He convinced Celine the song will become a big hit, and she told Jonathan Ross in an interview, “[Angélil] said, ‘Let’s just do a demo. Let’s give it a try and we’ll see after.’”
Her Husband Put His Foot Down
“The demo is actually the real recording. I never sang the song again,” she said. The song from the 1997 film Titanic went on to win several awards and has become Celine’s trademark song.
A Shark When It Comes To Business
Celine’s mother, Therese Tanguay Dion, is a famous chef in Quebec. No wonder Celine has a passion for and skills in cooking! Celine herself actually established her first restaurant.
A Shark When It Comes To Business
In 1990, she opened her first restaurant in Quebec, which became a massive hit just like her songs. After that, she decided to expand it and open other locations across Canada.
Suing For Millions For Spreading Lies
The 1990s was very stressful for Celine, having released a total of 13 albums and received bad news regarding Rene’s health. She realized she needed a break for her family and herself.
Suing Millions For Spreading Lies
During her hiatus, the magazine National Enquirer ran a story about Celine giving birth to twins, so she sued the magazine for $20 million. The magazine apologized and donated the money to the American Cancer Society.
Doctor Dion
Celine Dion has received many awards including The National Order of Quebec, the highest honor the Canadian province can give. She also has stars in the Canadian and Hollywood Walks of Fame.
Doctor Dion
Aside from those, Laval University awarded her an honorary doctorate, which Celine dedicated to her husband Rene, calling it “a very great honor for a little girl from Charlemagne.”
She Had No Other Choice
Two years before Celine was born, famous French artist Hugues Aufray released the song “Céline.” On her brother’s wedding day, 5-year-old Celine sang the song which she was named after.
She Had No Other Choice
This performance made everyone notice her extraordinary talent. Although there were other musicians in her family, her performance made it clear that Celine had serious potential.
Discovered In The Weirdest Way
Celine’s brother Jacques and their mother composed songs for Celine because they believed she was going to be a great singer. Celine’s mother did everything that she could to ensure her daughter will have a future in the music industry.
Discovered In The Weirdest Way
Fortunately, Celine’s family’s efforts paid off and they caught the attention of Canadian talent manager and music producer, Rene Angelil.
Her Mom Had To Interfere
Celine’s mother sent Rene a demo with a note that said: “This is a 12-year-old with a fantastic voice. Please listen to her. We want her to be like Ginette Reno.” However, Rene did not immediately reply.
Her Mom Had To Interfere
It was only after Celine’s brother persuaded the producer that Rene decided to listen to the demo. When he heard Celine’s voice, Rene contacted her right away to audition for him.
Her Audition Was Far From Normal
After listening to her incredible demo, Rene was thrilled to meet Celine in person. When she came to his office, he handed her a pretend microphone and told her, “Here’s your microphone.”
Her Audition Was Far From Normal
He added, “Now sing as though you were in front of a sellout audience.” Of course, Celine went for it and her performance completely stunned Rene. He saw that she was born to sing and perform.
Younger Than Her Own Stepson
Before marrying Celine, Rene Angelil had been married twice. His first marriage ended in 1972, but he had a son, Patrick Angelil. He had two more children from his second marriage, which was from 1974 to 1986.
Younger Than Her Own Stepson
In 1994, Rene married Celine and they had an extravagant wedding. The couple had difficulty conceiving, but they eventually welcomed three children: a son in 2001, and twin boys in 2010.
Rene Burst Into Tears
Celine recalled Rene became emotional during her audition. She said, “While I was singing, he (Rene) started to cry.” She added, “I knew then I had done a good job.”
Rene Burst Into Tears
Rene then recruited her, knowing that she will someday become a big star. He already had a plan on how to accomplish this and was prepared to face any obstacle in the journey to the top.
High Stakes Gambler
Rene actually took a big risk on Celine. He took out a loan and used his house as collateral in order to have enough money for releasing Celine’s first album! While it might sound crazy, it seems he knew what exactly he was doing.
High Stakes Gambler
Everyone’s sacrifices paid off since Celine’s song went number one in Canada. Rene was an avid poker player and gambler, but this was likely the biggest risk he ever took and it paid off big time.
The Pope Loved Her
In 1984, Pope John II visited Quebec and attended an event in Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. 16-year-old Celine sang the national anthem for him and thousands of people.
The Pope Loved Her
After this event and her massive success on Canadian charts, it was clear Celine was on her way to becoming a star. Celine was happy to sing for the Pope and he enjoyed her performance, as well.
She Demanded Time To Grow Up
Even though Celine was just starting her career at the time, Rene told her to take a break. At the time, it was a big risk to take as she was still establishing herself as an artist.
She Demanded Time To Grow Up
In spite of the risk, Celine took time away from the limelight, around a year and half. There was a specific reason for this break – she wanted to become a star like Michael Jackson. Rene knew that to reach this level of stardom, she would have to get her look altered and they would have to rebrand her.
Learning English And Going Global
Contrary to what people thought at time, the move turned out to be very beneficial for her career. Upon returning to the music scene, Celine was more confident and fans noticed her evolution. Her pronunciation when singing in English also improved.
Learning English And Going Global
“Incognito”, her comeback album, sold more than half a million copies. Unfortunately, she suffered a mishap while on tour and she injured her voice. She had to take a break for three weeks and undergo vocal training to avoid surgery.
America’s Sweetheart Was Born
In 1990, Celine made great strides in her career when she released her first English album titled “Unison”. This move helped her reach stardom in America and eventually, she became famous all over the world.
America’s Sweetheart Was Born
The tracks on the album became big hits, especially “Where Does My Heart Beat Now.” It became a top 10 hit. However, despite enjoying this tremendous success, she was taken by surprise by something.
Almost Losing Her Voice Forever
As she was getting ready for the tour, Celine’s voice vanished. She could not sing since she was suffering from laryngitis and exhaustion.
Almost Losing Her Voice Forever
Although she did not know what to do, she did not think of canceling the tour initially. However, her doctors told her not to continue since she would cause further damage to her vocal cords. She had to take another break from singing to recover.
Revealing Her Big Secret
Many people made speculations about Celine’s relationship with Rene, though the two did not confirm anything right away. Many thought that the two being in a relationship was inappropriate because of their 26-year age-gap.
Revealing Her Big Secret
Just before she released her album “The Colour of My Love,” Celine confirmed the swirling rumors about her romance with Rene.
Fearing The Public
It was definitely a May-December love affair: 19-year-old Celine was in a relationship with 46-year-old Rene. They knew people would be critical of their relationship because of the big age gap.
Fearing The Public
However, they faced the criticism head-on. They started dating in 1987 and were engaged by 1991. Three years later, they tied the knot at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Quebec.
She’s A Fantastic Secret Keeper
Before they revealed the big secret, the two managed to keep it between them for five years. It was Celine who actually wanted to announce it despite the publicity and the public reaction.
She’s A Fantastic Secret Keeper
“When you’re in love, you want to scream it to the world,” Celine said. It must have been pretty difficult for Rene and Celine to keep a huge secret for a really long time.
Going Overboard
Celine and Rene’s wedding ceremony was broadcast live on Canadian television. On December 17, 1994, the couple got married in Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica. It was like a royal wedding in the country, considering how many people wanted to watch it.
Going Overboard
All the details of the wedding were extravagant, from Celine’s dress to the outrageous decor and the venue. The wedding was definitely the epitome of luxury.
Bridezilla Or Royal Princess?
A lot of people talked about Celine’s wedding dress even after the wedding ceremony. The dress was designed by Mirella and Steve Gentile. It took the famous fashion designer couple more than 1,000 hours to finish the dress!
Bridezilla Or Royal Princess?
It was twenty feet long. Celine also wore a twenty-pound tiara which made her look like a princess. Looking at the photos, you will surely agree that her look was timeless.
Pricey Homes And Multiple Investments
The power couple purchased a mansion in Florida for a whopping $72 million. If you are wondering why it was so expensive, well, it does have a water park, three pools, and a golf course, among other things.
Pricey Homes And Multiple Investments
Aside from that, it is on an island in Florida, Juniper Island to be exact, where many luxurious celebrity mansions can be found. The estate also comes with a tennis court and other incredible amenities.
He Was Her Everything
After Celine’s sensational success with Titanic, she started her world tour called “Let’s Talk About Love.” This was around the same time Rene got diagnosed with cancer.
He Was Her Everything
While performing, Celine heard the heartbreaking news. She decided to perform a song in tribute to her husband. Sadly, Rene passed away on January 14, 2016 after fighting the disease.
Her Children’s Names Were Chosen Carefully
The couple was blessed with twins after several treatments. They welcomed Nelson and Eddy into the world on October 23, 2010. Celine and Rene named one of their sons after the renowned South-African president, Nelson Mandela.
Her Children’s Names Were Chosen Carefully
Eddy, on the other hand, was named after the producer of the first five albums of Celine, Eddy Marnary. Not long after giving birth to the twins, Celine was featured on the cover of Hello! magazine’s Canadian edition together with her twin babies.
Dreaming Of Changing The World
In terms of charity work, Celine Dion is also quite active. After the terrifying tsunami in Asia in 2004, she organized an event which raised $1 million.
Dreaming Of Changing The World
She also donated the same amount for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Celine was not afraid to tell the world about the inefficiency of the US government.
Her Secret Dad
Another person who had an important role in Celine’s success is her father, Adhemar Dion. She was really close to him, but he sadly passed away in 2001, something that was really difficult on Celine as well as her family.
Her Secret Dad
Celine explained, “My dad was and is still my number one fan since I was a very little girl. I know that my dad would want me to be here tonight on stage with everyone I love, doing what we love”.
She Prepared her Kids for Death
Celine had to tell her children about their father’s condition. “I’m proud of the way I prepared my boys for their dad’s death,” she said when was asked about it.
She Prepared Her Kids For Death
She commented, “In life, you never know what’s going to happen, so you should never wait for tomorrow to do what can be done today, to say I love you, or send a thank-you note…The future is now.”
Her Son is Too Young
Rene Charles Angelil’s first public appearance was at the Billboard Music Awards. He presented an award to his mom.
Her Son Is Too Young
Celine’s first son amazed a lot of people with how handsome he was. All the same, it is not uncommon for celebrities to bring their children on stage during public appearances.
She Made it to 90
Celine’s beloved mother is still quite healthy and living quite well! It is truly incredible since she celebrated her 92nd birthday recently.
She Made It To 90
Aside from being a stage mom to her really famous singer daughter, Celine’s mother is a host of a Canadian cooking show. She has also launched her very own food product line.
She NEVER Misses a Beat
Celine Dion is among the celebrities who are easiest to interview. Journalists and talk show hosts love her for it. It seems that they just cannot get enough of her.
She NEVER Misses A Beat
When she guest starred on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, her jewelry was praised and Celine responded by singing “She worked hard for the money” in reference to the popular Donna Summer song. Celine’s joyous attitude certainly played a role in launching her career.
Without a Brother
Throughout her life, Celine endured a lot of obstacles. The same week that Rene passed away, her brother Daniel also died for the same reason – cancer.
Without A Brother
It was definitely a terrible week for Celine and her family. Unfortunately, there are many families who are all too familiar with the suffering and pain of losing a loved one to the horrid disease.
Her Siblings Never Made It Big
Celine’s siblings are also talented singers and their entire family were very talented musically. Claudette, one of Celine’s older sisters, pursued a music career as well.
Her Siblings Never Made It Big
Sadly, Claudette never really reached the level of success and fame that Celine has. However, no one really knows the future, so maybe Claudette will be able to do it someday.
Making Money Off Her Fashion Sense
Celine Dion has an accomplished music career, but she decided take a gamble and launched her own fashion line. This is not surprising since she is well-known for being one of the most fashionable stars in the music industry.
Making Money Off Her Fashion Sense
She started her own clothing brand and her line has had over 200 pieces. She said that her pieces were inspired and influenced by different members of her family.
TV Debut
There is no doubt that Celine Dion is talented in many ways. She showcased her skills in acting by guest starring in an episode of the hit TV series All My Children.
TV Debut
The episode was for Thanksgiving and in it, Celine was a guest on Erica’s (Susan Lucci) talk show called ‘New Beginnings’ and she sang the title track “Taking Chances.” On Wednesday, November 21, 2007, the said episode aired.
A Voice Worth Hundreds Of Millions
Although Celine has begun dabbling in other fields, her passion for singing remains unchanged. After all, it was what helped her achieve her goals for herself and her family.
A Voice Worth Hundreds Of Millions
Her net worth is now estimated at $800 million. The singer and businesswoman from Canada has become one of the all-time best-selling artists, having sold more than 200 million records worldwide.
A Canadian Star
Celine Dion is one of a few Canadian celebrities who have a star in the Hollywood and Canadian Walks of Fame.
A Canadian Star
If you find yourself in these places, make sure to keep an eye out for her star. This incredible achievement occurred around thirteen years into her career.
They Are All Related
Fun fact: Celine shares blood relations with very big celebrities, including Beyoncé, Shania Twain, and Madonna. It was discovered these performers can trace back their bloodlines to Zacharie Cloutier, a French Canadian.
They Are All Related
In 1634, he left his home country, France, to venture into North America. He and his family were a few of the earliest settlers in what was called “New France.” That is truly an amazing story!
Master Of Many Tongues
Aside from French and English, Celine can also sing in other languages like Spanish, Italian, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and Latin. Another impressive fact about the singer!
Master Of Many Tongues
Not a lot of performers can claim that. Singing in all these languages is truly impressive, and this sets Celine Dion apart from other great singers.
A Staggering Net Worth
It should not come as a surprise that Celine Dion makes an absolute fortune. She has been in the business for several decades now, has had many sold out concerts, and has sold millions of records.
A Staggering Net Worth
In the 2000s, Celine was named the highest-earning celebrity. She accumulated $465 million from performing in Las Vegas and she has other sources of profit like her investments in real estate, multiple restaurants, and her fashion line, not to mention her TV gigs.
Hit And Miss
Celine has been blessed with numerous hits. Everyone knows “My Heart Will Go On” is her greatest hit, but not all her songs achieved the same level of success.
Hit And Miss
An example of this was the song she performed for An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, an animated movie. The song “Dreams to Dream” did not really become popular.
Love of Golf
Not a lot of people know this, but Celine Dion loves the sport golf. As a matter fact, she enjoys being a spectator and a player of the sport. It is one of the ways she relaxes and unwinds.
Love Of Golf
If you were wondering if she was any good, we can safely say she is a really good golfer. Celine has played the sport for many years now and has not gotten sick of it to this day.
Love Of Golf
In addition, Celine and Rene actually modernized the Quebecois club Le Mirage. They gave millions for its development back in 2008.
Celine Playing Golf
The couple even advertised the club and posted a statement online encouraging visitors to drop by. According to the pair, “a visit to the Mirage is an adventure in itself.”
And The Winner Goes To…Celine Dion
Celine Dion has been invited to perform at the Oscars more than any other artist. With her wonderful voice, she is truly deserving of the honor!
And The Winner Goes To…Celine Dion
As a matter of fact, in 1998, she took the stage to perform her iconic hit “My Heart Will Go On.” Celine has said that performance was one of the defining moments of her career.
The Oscars
The main reason she has been asked to perform at the Academy Awards multiple times is because of her work in film soundtracks. In the 2011 Oscars, she performed “Smile” to pay tribute to the celebrities that passed away in the year before.
Oscar Performances
Over the years, Celine has set the record for performances at the Oscars. She performed really well and Rolling Stone magazine included several of her performances in their list of top 20 Greatest Best Song Oscar Performances.
Oscar Fashion
Celine never fails to amaze over and over again! It is not only about her performances, but also other things like sporting a backward white tuxedo at the Oscars in 1999.
Backwards Oscar Tux
At the time, her look grabbed the attention of the fashion world, but nowadays, Celine says the look was just ahead of its time. According to the star, if she wore it recently, people would have adored it.
Backwards White Tux
Celine received a lot of criticisms when she wore the ensemble. Some people even called it a “fashion disaster.” When PEOPLE magazine interviewed her, she said that she was happy when she wore it, in spite of the negative reaction that she received.
Backwards White Tux
Regardless, Celine undeniably set herself apart from all of the other guests! The look actually became somewhat like a signature of hers. It is because she was seen recently wearing a blazer backwards, again.
White Backwards Tux
“When I wore that look, yes it was at the Oscars, and when I wore that, everyone was wearing dresses, not pants,” Celine explained, “I was the only one with pants in a backward suit from Galliano and if I would do this today it would work.”
Backwards White Tux And Gwens Dress At The Oscars
“It was avant-garde at the time. And it doesn’t matter, you just have to assume what you wear, you wear, and I did.” This look has undoubtedly become iconic in the following years.
It’s All Coming Back To Me Now
Meat Loaf was originally meant to sing this song! Though it sounds a bit unbelievable now, that is the truth. In the end, however, the composer decided to have a female singer sing the song.
A Hit Out Of Hell
Needless to say, that is the best decision, considering the extreme popularity the song “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” has around the world.
Clinging On To Her Children
Celine found it difficult to move on after her husband died, but who can blame her? “I miss him a lot for my partner, for the man I was embracing, kissing, and making love with,” she said in an interview.
Clinging On To Her Children
She added, “I organize myself to not feel lonely. So what’s happened is I got myself a huge bed and I sleep with my twins. My twins are comforting me a lot. I need them. I need them close.”
She Can Pretty Much Sing Anything
As for her choice of songs, Celine seems to be able to sing it all! She is known for adding her own touch on songs by other artists.
She Can Pretty Much Sing Anything
You will know what we mean when you listen to her cover of hits, such as John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy,” Eric Carmen’s “All by Myself,” and Cyndi Lauper’s “I Drove All Night.” Few artists can do that!
Collaborations
Celine has a reputation in the industry for being an excellent collaborator. Other sensational singers have attested to this after their duets with her. A few of the artists she collaborated with are Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Luciano Pavarotti, and Michael Jackson.
Collaborations
Celine and Barbara’s song, “Tell Him,” received a Grammy nomination and they almost performed it at the award ceremony. They were unable to do so because Barbara got sick with the flu and could not sing.
Certified Diamond
Celine Dion is among the few famous artists who have earned the “diamond status” award. The Record Industry Association of America gives this prestigious status to an album that sells over 10 million copies.
Certified Diamond
Celine has two records that have a verified diamond status, “Falling Into You,” which she released in 1996 and “Let’s Talk About Love” in 1997.
A Best Selling Female Artist
In 1991, Nielson Soundscan System was used by record executives to monitor album sales. Based on statistical data, only Mariah Carey and Rihanna are ahead of Celine in terms of albums sales in North America!
A Best Selling Female Artist
Just about all of Celine’s albums have earned certifications and reached the top spot on the charts in countries throughout the world. This just means that Celine is a global phenomenon!