Céline Dion has revealed that her husband René Angélil, who is battling throat cancer, has told her he wants to die in her arms.
The singer returns to her residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on the 27th August, after taking a year-long hiatus to care for her husband.
Copyright [Franziska Krug/Getty]
Recalling a heartbreaking conversation the pair, who have sons Nelson, Eddy, and Rene-Charles together, shared about René’s wishes, Céline told USA Today: “I’ll say, ‘You’re scared? I understand. Talk to me about it’.
“And René says to me, ‘I want to die in your arms’. OK, fine, I’ll be there, you’ll die in my arms.”
Céline has been married to her former manager since 1994, and explained that it was her husband who encouraged her to return to Las Vegas to do what she loves - performing.
Copyright [Gabe Ginsberg/Getty]
Céline, 47, revealed: “Don’t forget, he’s been the leader of the band all my life. So it [hacks] him off to not see me all day and over here working. But he wants me to do this, do the show, do the interviews. But he freaks when I’m not home with him, too.
“I didn’t want to be here at first, I don’t need it. Don’t get me wrong, I love singing for people, but I have priorities. But René really gave me a gift.
“All my grieving, it was during this last year. I think I’ve got this. For now. When it hits me, it’s going to hit me. But my biggest job is to tell my husband, we’re fine. I’ll take care of our kids. You’ll watch us from another spot.”
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She added that her first show will be “fragile,” admitting: “There will be moments of emptiness, laughter, awkwardness, tearing up. But that’s the point of coming back—otherwise, I just release an album.”
Returning to Vegas isn’t just about a return to performing for Céline though, who explained that wants to show René that she’s there for him.
She said: “When you see someone who is fighting so hard, it has a big impact on you. You have two choices. You look at your husband who’s very sick and you can’t help, and it kills you. Or you look at your husband that’s sick and you say, ‘I got you. I got it. I’m here. It’s going to be just fine’.
Céline and Rene in 1991. Copyright [IconicPix/WENN.com]
“You can have your shaking knees at the end, but when someone you love falls and needs help, it’s not time to cry. Afterwards, sure. But not yet.”
