Rene Angelil, Husband Of Celine Dion, Dies at 73

Celine Dion’s husband Rene Angelil died Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

Celine and Rene married in 1994. He is survived by Dion and their their children, 14-year-old Rene Charles, 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy, and his adult children from prior marriages Anne-Marie, Patrick and Jean-Pierre.

According to report, Celine Dion took two career breaks to look after her husband after he was diagnosed with throat cancer, first in 2000.

Dion also opened up about the moment she found out her husband’s cancer was back after nearly 15 years. “Celine will return to The Colosseum on February 23 to resume performances”.

Calling Angelil an unbelievable showman and businessman, Caesars President Gary Selesner said it was impossible to overstate the impact he and Dion have had on the history of entertainment in Las Vegas and at Caesars Palace.

The music manager was 26 years older than Celine Dion, but he saw talent in her and agreed to work with her even at such a young age.

The lush Colosseum at Caesars Palace was built specifically for Dion, opening March 25, 2003 – the first night of Dion’s first residency (the evening was commemorated with a CBS TV special).

Angelil was born in Montreal on January 16, 1942, to a Syrian father and a Quebecois mother.

Angelil was Dion’s manager before he became her husband.

“Rene really gave me a gift”, she told USA Today in an August 2015 interview.

“She said, ‘You’re my little girl, you’re my infant and I need the ideal flawless suitor for you.’ And after that it was strong to the point that my entire family was infatuated with him and she had no way out”.

Angelil took on her career and launched her first English-language album in 1990.

But the love these two shared for 21 years shows that she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Songwriter Diane Warren, who collaborated with Dion on Grammy-winning hit “Because You Loved Me”, also paid tribute to Angelil.