Elvis was the King of Rock n' Roll, Madonna is the Queen of Pop, but when it comes to cross-genre musical talent, Céline Dion is the one, true Empress of music. With a voice rivaled by no other, this glorious "Nightingale" has dominated the scene in her more than 50-year-long-career.
From nothing to a net worth of $430 million, she has also enjoyed success without measure! But although most have already sung along to this diva’s greatest hits, there are still some fascinating things that we can unfold about her life. So, how well do you know Céline Dion?
She Hated Her Most Iconic Song
Ask anyone which is their favorite Dion song, and odds are they'll say My Heart Will Go On. This is arguably the most popular song that Céline Dion has ever sung, mainly because it was the theme song for the highly acclaimed James Cameron movie, Titanic.
And she hated it. Good thing that her husband (and manager) convinced her to reconsider. My Heart Will Go On broke the charts, becoming No. 1 on U.S. Billboard. She was wearing a replica of the fictional Titanic necklace, Heart of the Ocean, during her Academy Awards performance.
We Almost Wouldn't Have Celine Dion
Believe it or not, the world almost didn’t have the iconic Céline because of a freak accident that she got into early in her life. She was just a small child when a truck backed into her, causing multiple skull fractures, rendering her unconscious for days.
Luckily, the French-Canadian gal was able to make a full recovery. It was also at this age when she had her very first public performance when she sang for her brother Michel’s wedding. Nobody probably knew back then that a few years later, Céline would be signing a recording contract.
The Love Of Her Life Was 26 Years Older Than Her
The ‘90s proved to be great for Céline Dion, with The Wall Street Journal even declaring her as a once-in-a-generation voice (which we can all agree on). But, it wasn’t just her career that commanded attention at the time. Her personal life would hit big celebrity news like a shooting star.
Celine and René - 26 years her senior - had been dating for five years already when in 1993, she released The Color of My Love album. In it, she "hid" her love confession for her manager, René, in the Power of Love song, for all the world to know.
She Won the Eurovision By A Single Point
In what could’ve been the most electrifying ending that’s in the history of the prestigious Eurovision Song Contest, Switzerland became a two-time champion in 1988. Their representative? Céline Dion! As a French-Canadian Quebecois, she was initially confused when they called her to fly to Ireland to represent Switzerland.
The baffled Céline was concerned that the Swiss people did not know her and that would affect the outcome. Still, she gave it a go and aimed for the stars. The winning margin was a single point but she did it. Celine sang her heart out to 600 million TV viewers.
She Mastered English In A Flash
After Céline took 18 months away from the spotlight in the late ‘80s, she surprised everyone when she returned like a fresh spring flower, bloomed after the winter. Aside from returning more confident than ever, the young lady had wowed everyone with her newfound mastery over the English language.
One of the first methods she used to learn English sounds was by reciting lyrics repeatedly. But ultimately, Dion went to Berlitz School to speed up her command; a good call, judging by how much of her repertoire would be in English. Robin Williams and Meryl Streep also attended this school.
Coming To America Through The Tonight Show
The songstress successfully broke into the American market in 1990 when she launched her first English album titled Unison. The single Where Does My Heart Beat Now blew up in the U.S. as it became a top 10 hit domestically and all over the world as well.
Her fans in the U.S. were floored by her talent. Then up-and-coming star Céline was invited to The Tonight Show by host Jay Leno, who foretold that she would go on to have an extraordinary career. Well, with her newfound English speaking skills and perfect smile, that was exactly what happened!
The Duet That Broke The Charts
Céline Dion may be Canadian, but her American dream came true. But this might have never happened if she hadn't gotten the chance to sing the theme song of an iconic Disney movie. Beauty and the Beast, which was recorded as a duet by Céline and Peabo Bryson, topped global charts.
What's more, it also won a Grammy Award and an Academy Award. While celebrating her 24th birthday on March 30, 1992, Céline sang the song with Peabo for the Oscars broadcast. The day after that, she released her second English album on The Tonight Show.
Meat Loaf Laid Claim To It's All Coming Back to Me Now
The acclaimed songwriter Jim Steinman composed a powerful ballad in the ‘80s that eventually became one of Céline’s biggest hits—It's All Coming Back to Me Now. But apparently, he initially promised it to the rocker-turned-balladeer Meat Loaf, whom he wrote many hit songs for.
After being passed on to his all-girl group Pandora's Box, the Wuthering Heights inspired song then made it to Dion’s hands in 1996. That was when it reached the Billboard Chart’s No.2 spot. Meat Loaf, still believing the song was his after all those years, released his own version a decade later.
The Rich & The Powerful Adore Her
Celine Dion has entranced millions, from all walks of life, and her fans can be found even among the most powerful. At age 16, she performed in front of none other than Pope John Paul II. Then in 1993, she performed for the then POTUS Bill Clinton.
But the list of her celeb fan club grows longer still and includes the star system elite. Want to go over a few of the names? Selena Gomez, Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, and Lady-freaking-Gaga love Celine's music and even look up to her! Same goes for superstar actress Emma Watson.
The Chrysler Ads Debacle
Céline is adored by many for her jaw-dropping voice, but sometimes she made decisions that didn't sit well with her fans. One such example was in 2003, when Céline released One Heart, in connection to her endorsement deal with Chrysler. The album was deemed by many as mediocre.
Some even went the extra mile and called it predictable and banal. This wasn't the first time this had happened though, as her cover of the 1989 Cyndi Lauper hit called I Drove All Night also had displeased many fans earlier. Well, no one can please everyone—not even Céline Dion!
Singing For The Victims Of 9/11
But it's not only corporate causes that move Céline to action; she is also moved by her fellow humans' plight, a fact proved when she gave a soul-shaking performance of God Bless America. She sang it on TV for America: A Tribute to Heroes benefit organized following the harrowing 9/11 attacks.
After her nearly three-year sabbatical, she came back to the music industry with the album A New Day Has Come in 2002. Once again, a masterpiece from the pop diva had become #1 on the charts. This time, it happened in 17 countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and France.
Down For A Deadpool Ballad
If you didn’t know, Céline Dion's Ashes was part of the Deadpool 2 soundtrack. Don’t worry, your shocked reaction will turn to pure amusement. Apparently, even Ryan Reynolds a.k.a. Deadpool himself was shocked when he found out that Céline was excited about the music video for her new ballad.
And so, magic happened again. While Dion belted out melodramatically, there was Deadpool beside her, channeling his interpretative dance moves on stage—in heels! Of course, with two Canadian icons in one masterpiece, the music video instantly became viral, reaching two million views in just a single day!
She Saved Las Vegas From Recession
Remember when Celine Dion pulled Vegas out of economic downfall? No? Prepare to be floored. She was hailed as the Las Vegas “messiah” because of how she helped the city claw out of recession when she began her residency in Caesars Palace. She is set to perform until June of 2019.
The pop diva had a barrage of sold-out shows, one after the other, from 2003 to 2007! It got to a point where folks were literally coming to Sin City just to see her, and of course, we all know how that usually turns out.
René Risked His House For Céline
At the early age of 12, Dion officially became a recording artist, and the first song that she made was called Ce n’était qu’un rêve. It was written through the help of her mom and her brother Jacques. Céline’s mom sent a cassette of it to impresario René Angélil.
After hearing it, the man invited her to his office, gave her a pencil as a microphone, and asked her to sing as if she were performing in front of an audience. Her delivery instantly enthralled René. His complete confidence made him mortgage his house to fund her first album!
Céline & Her Stepson Are The Same Age
The Color of My Love became a certified diamond album in Canada with sales that hit over one million copies. The confession of her love for René that Céline made through the album could’ve possibly been a big factor for it being such a hit.
Her stepson, Patrick, was born in the same year as her! Obviously, it was a bit of a scandal back then. But despite the mixed reactions for their kind of relationship, the couple carried on and they got married at Montreal's Notre Dame Basilica on December 1994.
It Was Difficult For Her To Conceive So She Had IVF
After having an extravagant wedding and garnering more success throughout the rest of the ‘90s, Dion announced that she was taking another break. Her singing career was put on hold in early 2000 to allow her more time with her family. It was later discovered that the songstress was having difficulty conceiving.
This was a time of huge stress for her. She had undergone two operations at a New York fertility clinic and also tried in-vitro fertilization. After several attempts, Dion finally got what she wanted. On January 25, 2001, the singing sensation gave birth to her first son, René-Charles Dion Angélil.
She Lived In A Waterpark Mansion
Can you imagine yourself basking in the summer sun in your swimwear while drinking lemonade and admiring your water theme park mansion? Well, you don't need a vivid imagination if you're Céline Dion since she probably did exactly that when she lived in one herself.
Her grand residence had 13 bedchambers, 14 bathrooms, a man-made river, waterslides, and its own water-gun stations along with a lot more amazing features! The six-acre private property is located on Jupiter Island, Florida—one of the most affluent US neighborhoods. It was later sold by Dion, in 2017.
Lost Her Father & Biggest Fan...
Another one of Céline’s major achievements in life is receiving her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During a ceremony in 2004, the French-Canadian songstress broke down in moving tears as she expressed gratitude to her late father for being her biggest fan.
A year before that milestone, Mr. Adhemar Dion had passed away due to a lengthy illness which was deteriorating his health. So, it was understandable that emotions were still running high for Céline then. Jay Leno, The Tonight Show host, was actually the one who introduced her that day.
...And Then Her Brother & Husband
In the late ‘90s, René Angélil battled with throat cancer but was able to make a full recovery from it. He even got to go onstage at Montréal’s Centre Molson on December 31, 1999, just to kiss his beloved wife before the millennium had ended. However, his cancer relapsed.
Céline’s husband had to undergo major surgery in a desperate attempt to combat it. Sadly, René passed away due to a heart attack on January 14, 2016. It happened two days before his 74th birthday, which was, shockingly, the day when his brother-in-law, Daniel, died of cancer as well.
One More Night With René That Never Came
Even though the most tragic week in her life was raging, Céline chose to see the silver lining through it all. The Nightingale believed that her dear René had escorted her brother and took him under his wing. A national funeral for Angélil took place at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montréal.
This was the same church where, over two decades earlier, Céline and René had said their vows. The devoted Dion released the first single from a new French album by May of the same year. It was a song dedicated to René called Encore un soir or One More Night.
Celine Dion: Doctor of Music
Since she started performing at quite an early age, Céline wasn’t able to finish high school. Instead of spending her time studying in an institution, the sensational songstress put all her hard work into harnessing her talent to become a star. Dion is now currently a living legend.
In fact, the music icon is even an honorary doctor! You read that right. She actually received an honorary doctorate from Quebec’s Laval University. And for this great woman from Charlemagne, this recognition is a great honor and which finally completed the one missing piece in her life's puzzle.
Golf Enthusiast-Turned-Golf Entrepreneur
Aside from music, Céline is also passionate about golf. Her "love affair" with the sport all began after she took lessons on how to play the game in the late ‘90s. This lady is so in love with golf that she even opened her own golf course!
It’s called Club de Golf le Mirage, and it's located in Terrebonne - near Montreal - in Canada. Céline really has a knack for filling her bank account with things that she adores doing as well. Now, she's so hooked on playing it that she even has a personalized golf cart.
Why So Slim Celine?
With everything Céline has gone through in all her years under the public eye, she’s probably used to the judgment that comes with stardom—even physical scrutiny. The pop diva, who just turned 51 in 2019, has been under fire lately for appearing noticeably thinner.
A lot of people are worried that she might be suffering from an eating disorder. Many body shamers out there say she is too thin, however, Céline has been quick to say that there’s no need for concern because it’s all due to her latest passion: ballet.
Not Only Can You Reach Heaven With Her Voice, But You Can Also Do It With Her Food
Schwartz's is a staple of Montreal’s culinary market. The deli is incredibly famous for its smoked meat sandwiches and has been going strong for almost 100 years now. How did Celine Dion get involved? Well, she and her late husband bought the place for a pretty sum of money in 2012.
The recipes continue to be the traditional ones Schwartz's has always had. Celine herself has been seen buying a sandwich and donating meals to charities supported by her late husband in more than one occasion. What a way to get a hold of a Montreal tradition!
Singing To Help Those Who Needed It The Most
Celine highly appreciates the fortunate position she is in. This is why it is not rare to see her in charity functions, always trying to give back. In 2005, after the terrible tsunami that took place in the Indian Ocean, she decided to do something about it with her incredible voice.
She decided to donate all proceedings from a special performance she would give in Mother’s Day to the victims of the disaster. She managed to raise over $1 million, which she proceeded to give in its entirety to UNICEF so that they could help some of the affected families.
The Meeting Of Two Legends To Create A Great Song
After Celine sang a Streisand song in an Academy Awards ceremony looking great in a designer dress, Barbra contacted her. She said that she loved the performance and that they should do something together. René, Celine’s late manager, and husband, seized the opportunity and had a song written for them titled Tell Him.
With the immense talent backing the lyrics, the song became a success in Europe and Australia and it was the debut single for both artists’ new albums. Today, it is considered as one of the best duets in history and it even got a Grammy Awards nomination.
Celine Could Drown In A Sea Of Shoes
Celine has always been very outspoken about her love for shoes. She has opened her closet in order to show the public the vast amount of pairs she has. In a carpool karaoke with James Corden, she admitted to possibly having more than 5,000 pairs!
Given the fact that Celine is a celebrity and always has to look great, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Furthermore, given the immense amount of performances she has done during her career, it’s only logical that she would need different footwear for each one! Besides, she can afford it.
A Fortune That Can Last Through Generations
Celine Dion currently has a net worth estimated at $800 million. We are pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to spend it during this lifetime. She has earned this immense amount through a lot of hard work, especially considering how young she was when she started performing.
Celine’s sales worldwide have surpassed 200 million albums. Furthermore, her Las Vegas residency has proved to be a moneymaker, with over $400 million proceedings from these performances. Celine definitely knows how to capitalize on her talent and her children won’t be lacking for any material things any time soon.
The Courage World Tour Is Coming!
Because Céline Dion has officially announced her fourteenth concert tour, our wish to see her belting out in designer clothes more has just been granted! The Courage World Tour was publicly announced on April 3, 2019, at The Theatre at Ace Hotel and it was live streamed on her Facebook page.
This will be Céline's first world tour in more than a decade, and she’s about to return to North American arenas, which a lot of folks have long been waiting for. There’s no stopping this powerhouse of a performer from taking the world by storm with her powerful voice again.
She Has A Music-Filled Biopic In The Works
Céline Dion’s time is now as it’s always been. A celebrity as constant as the mountains and as versatile as the clouds, she’s always been able to reimagine herself and stay relevant. Whether through working with new fashion designers, going to red carpets, or performances, Celine Dion is here to stay.
We think you'll agree it's high time she got her biography told on the big screen, amidst sweet melodies from her entire career. The timing is perfect, and they’ve selected the perfect candidate to portray the pop diva impeccably. Valérie Lemercier is a French artist as multitalented as Celine herself.
A Heartfelt Tribute As Curtains Fall On Dion's Las Vegas Residency
Celine Dion’s 8-year residency in Las Vegas came to an end in June 2019. She used her final show as an opportunity to give a heartfelt tribute to her late husband. Her three sons joined her at the Colosseum at Ceasars Palace to wrap up the show.
As they stood hand-in-hand on the stage, behind them, an image of Dion and René Angélil appeared. Dion gazed at the image reminiscing about her late husband who died of throat cancer in 2016. According to Billboard, in total, Dion had played an impressive 427 shows during her residency for millions of fans.