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Céline
Dion was born on March 30, 1968, in Charlemagne, a small town near Montréal,
as the youngest of fourteen children. Her family didn't have much, but music
was in abundance. From a young age, Céline sang along with her siblings, and
at the age of twelve, she co-wrote her first song, “Ce n’était qu’un rêve”,
with her mother and brother. Her mother sent a cassette of the song to René
Angélil, a well-known impresario from Québec. He was so impressed by her
voice that he decided to finance her career by mortgaging his own house. It
was the beginning of one of the most successful partnerships in music
history.
In 1981, her first album, “La voix du bon Dieu”, was released, instantly
making her a star in Québec. Her powerful voice and mature presence stood
out—especially given her young age. In 1982, she won the gold medal at the
Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo with “Tellement j’ai d’amour pour
toi”, and in 1983, she became the first Canadian artist to receive a gold
record in France. Her popularity grew steadily, particularly in
French-speaking Europe and Canada, where she released several albums filled
with emotional chansons.
She achieved international breakthrough in 1988, when she represented
Switzerland and won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Ne partez pas sans
moi”. It was a pivotal moment: the world had heard her remarkable voice, and
she was ready to leap into the English-speaking market. In 1990, her first
English-language album, “Unison”, was released, featuring the hit “Where Does
My Heart Beat Now”, which reached the top five on the U.S. charts. While her
accent was still noticeable, her voice was unmistakable. She was invited onto
major American talk shows and quickly won the hearts of a global
audience.
In 1991, she sang the duet “Beauty and the Beast” with Peabo Bryson for the
Disney film of the same name. The song won an Academy Award and a Grammy,
marking her definitive breakthrough in the United States. Her second English-language
album, “Celine Dion”, followed in 1992, with hits like “If You Asked Me To”
and “Love Can Move Mountains”. She proved she was no one-hit wonder, but a
lasting force in pop music.
In 1993, she released “The Colour of My Love”, featuring songs like “The
Power of Love” and “Think Twice”. The latter became a massive hit in Europe.
Céline’s voice, capable of moving effortlessly from a whisper to overwhelming
power, became her signature. She combined technical perfection with emotional
intensity, and her ballads touched millions.
Despite her international success, she stayed true to her Francophone
roots. In 1995, she released “D’eux”, written by Jean-Jacques Goldman. It
became the best-selling French-language album of all time, with hits like
“Pour que tu m’aimes encore” and “Je sais pas”. She proved that she could be
just as powerful in both languages, and her status as a global star only
continued to grow.
In 1996, she released “Falling into You”, an album that sold more than 30
million copies worldwide. It included classics like “Because You Loved Me”,
“It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”, and “All by Myself”. The album won two
Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. She filled stadiums with her voice,
and her performances were grand, emotional, and technically impressive.
In 1997, she followed up with “Let’s Talk About Love”, featuring the iconic
“My Heart Will Go On”, the theme song from the film Titanic. The song became
a global sensation, won an Oscar and a Grammy, and became the best-selling
single by a female artist since the 1990s. The album also included
collaborations with Barbra Streisand and Luciano Pavarotti, solidifying her
status as one of the greatest voices of her generation.
Toward the end of the 1990s, Céline Dion released "All the Way… A
Decade of Song"—a compilation album that also included new tracks such
as "That’s the Way It Is." By then, she had sold hundreds of
millions of albums, won dozens of awards, and left an indelible mark on pop
music.
After a decade of unprecedented success, Céline Dion decided to take a step
back around the turn of the millennium. Her husband and manager, René
Angélil, was seriously ill, and Céline wanted to focus entirely on her
family. In January 2001, their son René-Charles was born—a long-cherished
wish that had finally come true. Although she officially took a sabbatical,
she still occasionally appeared on stage—such as at a benefit concert
commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks, where she performed "God
Bless America."
In 2002, she returned with the album "A New Day Has Come," which
sold millions of copies worldwide. The title track and "I'm Alive"
became major hits, and her voice sounded more powerful than ever. This album
marked a new phase filled with maturity, hope, and renewed energy. In 2003,
she launched an ambitious project: a residency in Las Vegas titled "A New
Day…", directed by Franco Dragone of Cirque du Soleil. A theater was
built especially for her—the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, with over four
thousand seats. The show combined music, dance, and visual effects, and
became an unprecedented success. Over five years, she performed 717 sold-out
shows for more than three million visitors.
Despite her busy schedule, she continued to release new albums during this
period. "One Heart" came out in 2003 and featured songs like "I
Drove All Night" and "Have You Ever Been in Love." In 2004,
she followed with "Miracle," a tribute to motherhood—created in
collaboration with photographer Anne Geddes. The album was accompanied by a
photo book filled with tender images of Céline with babies. In 2007, she
released "D’elles," a French-language album featuring lyrics by
female authors, followed by the English-language album "Taking
Chances," which she supported with another world tour.
In 2010, she returned to Las Vegas with a new show, simply titled
"Celine." This time, the focus was on her voice and the music,
supported by a full orchestra. The show ran until 2019 and became another box
office hit. But behind the scenes, her life was marked by loss. In January
2016, René Angélil passed away from throat cancer, followed just two days
later by the death of her brother, Daniel. Céline entered one of the most
difficult periods of her life, yet soon returned to the stage—determined to
honor her husband through music.
That same year, she released the French-language album "Encore un
soir," with the title track written by Jean-Jacques Goldman. The song
was a tribute to René and struck a deep chord with her fans. The album was a
major success in French-speaking Europe. In 2019, "Courage" was
released—her first English-language studio album in six years. Featuring
songs like "Imperfections," "Lying Down," and "Courage,"
the album gave voice to her personal struggle and resilience. She embarked on
a world tour, but it was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the years that followed, Céline largely withdrew from public view. In
2022, she revealed she had been diagnosed with the rare stiff-person
syndrome—a neurological disorder that affects muscle control and severely
impacts her ability to perform. She was forced to cancel her scheduled shows
and focus entirely on her health. The announcement sparked a wave of support
from fans around the world, who admired her strength and openness.
Despite her absence from the stage, her influence remained palpable. In
2024, the documentary "I Am: Celine Dion" premiered, in which she
spoke candidly about her illness, her career, and her love for music. The
film offered an intimate glimpse into her life and revealed both her
vulnerability and her unbreakable spirit. In 2025, "My Heart Will Go
On" was added to the U.S. Library of Congress's National Recording
Registry, recognized as a culturally and historically significant work.
Céline Dion is an icon. A survivor. A woman who used her voice to move,
comfort, and inspire millions. Her career spans over four decades, with more
than 220 million albums sold, countless awards, and a permanent place in the
hearts of fans worldwide. Her story is one of talent, dedication, love, and
courage. And though her future as a performer remains uncertain, her musical
legacy is undeniable. Céline Dion has more than earned her place in music
history—not only as the queen of the power ballad, but as a woman who changed
the world with her voice. |
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