In the early 1980s, one of Céline’s brothers, Michel, decided to send a recording of his sister’s singing to René Angélil. The respected music manager was 38 years old. He was already married twice and had three children. Young Céline’s voice delighted him so much that he invited her to a meeting. The less than 13-year-old girl stood in front of the manager and began to sing.
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They met when she was 12. “Only with time came love”
“When I sang, he started crying. I knew I did a good job. (…) From the beginning I had great respect for him. It only came with time – the artist recalled years later in an interview with “People”. Angélil was confident that he would succeed. He paid for the release of her debut album out of his own pocket, even mortgaged his house. He also financed her European tour. The investment was a success, and Dion quickly topped the Canadian charts.
He was responsible for her career and successes. “I lived with this love secretly”
In May 1988, Céline won the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest. She represented Switzerland. She was 20 years old, René Angélil was already not only her manager. Dion had long had feelings for him.
Before I fell asleep, I would slip his picture under my pillow (…). Less and less could I hide from myself the fact that I was in love with René. I had all the symptoms (…). I was in love with a man I couldn’t love, who didn’t want me to love him, and who didn’t want to love me
she recalled years later in her They didn’t go on their first date until she was 19. Initially, they hid their relationship, not only because of their developing music career, but also because of their age difference. – I lived with this love secretly – Dion in one of the interviews. Her mother was not happy with her daughter’s relationship, she repeated that Angélil had already been divorced twice. For years, she did not leave her daughter’s step, she went with her on concert tours. She had long suspected that Céline’s heart had developed a feeling. However, she had no choice but to accept her daughter’s decision. They were both adults after all.
He was afraid of what people would say. She wanted to shout the truth about their love to the world
In 1991, Dion officially announced that she was in a relationship with her manager. “I was very afraid of what people would think at the time, but Céline wanted them to know the truth. She used to say: When you’re in love, you want to shout it out to the world – Angélil years later. They married on December 17, 1994. The lavish wedding took place at Montréal Cathedral and the ceremony was televised.
The biggest hit recorded on the first take and a dramatic message
In 1997, Angélil was approached by the composer of the ballad “My heart will go on”. Céline didn’t feel like singing another blockbuster as she had just recorded the music for Beauty and the Beast. Her husband persuaded her, and Dion sang one of her greatest hits perfectly on the first take. In 1998, the song received an Oscar. Soon after, René was diagnosed with throat cancer. The singer suspended her career to take care of her husband. Two years later, it was announced that he had beaten cancer. René gave up artistic supervision of , but still watched over her career.
In 2001, the first son, René Charles, was born. Nine years later twins, Nelson and Eddy, were born. “A child was my greatest dream. Not more albums and music awards, not a fortune on the account, but just a child – Céline. They tried for a child for a long time, finally Dion underwent the in vitro procedure. Over the years, she took care of her home and family and developed her career at the same time.
Only his death separated them. “I am one man’s woman”
In 2013, the family idyll was disrupted by devastating news. It turned out that René had a relapse. Céline was preparing to appear on “The Voice” at the time. I went back to the dressing room and saw him in complete disarray. He was in shock. I asked: What happened? He replied that the doctor had just called him. The cancer has come back and attacked the throat – . René asked her not to interrupt her career. He wanted to see her on stage. As long as his health allowed him, he accompanied her during her performances.
Angélil died on January 14, 2016 in his wife’s arms. Two days later, Céline’s brother Daniel died. – I think I will mourn for the rest of my life – in an interview with “Paris Match”. – I am one man’s woman and that man is René. I never paid attention to anyone other than my husband. He is my man, my banner, my anchor.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
