ACTUAL. QUEEN. 🙌 #MyHeartWillGoOn #BBMAs @celinedion
Under an enormous, lit chandelier, Celine Dion delivered a touching and powerful performance of the song “My Heart Will Go On.” Introduced by Lea Michele, Dion paid tribute to the 20th anniversary of the movie Titanic. With footage from the movie playing in the background, Dion, stood emotional and graceful as she performed.
A flutist played in the background, with Dion standing tall in a breathtaking white gown during the performance. Prior to Lea Michele introducing Dion, she gushed over the singer on the red carpet to E! News, saying:
I have had the opportunity to really learn from women who have come before me that I considered to be such great inspirations and icons like Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion, who is here today … I mean, I really am obsessed with her. I think she’s incredible. Just to be in the same building with her today is going to be awesome for me.
#BBMAs: @CelineDion performs “My Heart Will Go On” in honor of #Titanic‘s 20th anniversary
This song is one of Dion’s most iconic works in her career. What’s interesting is that Dion actually didn’t initially want to do the song, but it was her late husband Rene Angelil who convinced her. In addition to being Dion’s longtime manager, Angelil was also known as an avid poker player. The couple married in 1994 and they have had three children together. Angelil also has three children from two prior marriages before getting together with Dion. After a long battle with throat cancer, Dion’s husband finally let go. He even asked Dion if he could die in her arms, to which she told him he could. Angelil remained his wife’s manager for years until his declining health made it too difficult for him to carry out the job. Together, the couple amassed a net worth of over a billion dollars. Celine Dion has an estimated net worth of $630 million, while husband Angelil had $400 million as well.
Upon Angelil’s death, his representative issued this statement: Rene Angelil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer. The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment. This was Angelil’s third battle with cancer.
At the end of her performance, Dion began to cry and she was given a drawn-out standing ovation by the crowd.
LEA PRESENTING HER IDOL CELINE DION!
Following her set, hosts Ludacris and Vanessa Hudgens called for another round of applause for the icon. Hudgens fought tears as she was moved by Dion’s voice, like many others in the room.