Céline Dion & René Angélil’s Age Gap Didn’t Stop Their Heartfelt Love Story

Jun 22, 2022 by apost team

Canadian singer Céline Dion, 55, first rose to fame representing Switzerland in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. She became internationally famous when she recorded the title track for Disney's animated film "Beauty and the Beast." Dion is best known for singing the hugely popular song "My Heart Will Go On" from the hit film "Titanic." The successful artist has also had a 16-year residency in Las Vegas.
Not only is she one of Canada's most popular musicians who has had astronomical worldwide record sales, but she is also a mother to three children. However, the star was met with tragedy when she lost her husband, René Angélil, to throat cancer in 2016. René was 73 years old. Since then, Dion has been mourning the loss of her partner of 22 years, whom she first met when she was 12 years old and later got engaged to at 25.

Throughout Dion's life, the singer has paid tribute to her husband, dedicating songs to him and singing his praises in interviews with the press. René entered into the singer's life as her manager and mentor, though their relationship turned romantic in 1987, following René's divorce from his second wife. 

In 1994, the couple got married in a wedding ceremony that was broadcast on Canadian television. Only five years later, René was diagnosed with cancer for the first time. He would battle the disease for years until his death in 2016. But, despite years between them and fame—the couple never let anything stand in the way of their love.

According to Good Housekeeping, the singer first met her husband-to-be after one of her siblings sent a tape of a then 12-year-old singer to René, a well-known music manager in Canada. René, who was impressed, invited Dion for an audition, quickly leading to Dion releasing her first album under the French-Canadian manager. When Dion turned 19 in 1987, René and Dion went on their first date together, which the singer revealed in the liner notes of the album "The Colour of My Love."

The couple eventually went from dating to being engaged in 1991. They said 'I do' in 1994 at a Montreal ceremony in the Notre-Dame Basilica. Hello Magazine reported that just one year after tying the knot, Dion shared, "I'm not surprised that we married each other because we have the same dreams. We have the same goals. We respect each other."

The Hollywood couple met in the entertainment industry when Dion was so young; René was 26 years older than Dion. They received public backlash on their age gap, but the two didn't mind. David Foster, a music producer and a good friend of the couple— shared they were perfect together. 

"There was an age difference, but as with all great couples, whatever the discrepancies are in age, it just sort of melts away as the months and years go by. They just became René and Celine," he shared. 

Aside from public backlash, the lovebirds received backlash from Dion's mother. The star singer had to convince her mother that their relationship was true love. In an exclusive interview with Access Hollywood, she admitted it was a difficult time.

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"I was very frustrated and mad at her at first because I said, 'It's not just like a crazy thing. It's real!' But she tried to make understand that this kid tried twice before, he has three children, he's not responsible," she said. 

"He knows how it works in show business. But you're my daughter, you're my baby, and I want the perfect prince charming for you," she added. 

Dion and René spent 21 years together before he passed away from cancer in 2016. Following his death, Celine still speaks about their once-in-a-lifetime love. 

In an interview with Today, Dion shared, "Losing my husband, for my kids to lose their father, it was quite something," she said. "I feel like René has given me so much through the years and still today. I see my kids. I look at them — we live with him. We still live with him. He's part of our lives every day, so I have to say that I feel very, very strong."

Dion and her late husband shared three children. The icon also shared that following the death of her husband, she takes her life day by day. 

"I don't know. I have no idea," she said. "But right this second, love is so big right now in my life, with my kids, with life itself. I'm not thinking about a relationship and falling in love again. I don't. Do I have to say that it will never happen anymore? I don't know. I don't know."

You can follow the award-winning singer on her very popular Instagram page with over five million followers. 

Isn't Céline Dion and her husband's love story beautiful? We hope that she finds happiness! If you are a huge Céline Dion fan—send this article to another big fan!