CELINE DION will fulfill husband René Angélil’s dying wish and return to the stage to sing for him one last time, sources told The National ENQUIRER.
“He also wants to see her relaunch her career,” said a family friend.
The 47-year-old superstar announced she would perform at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Aug. 27. Celine has devoted the past year to caring for her 73-year-old husband and their three children – René-Charles, 14, and 4-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy – during René’s ongoing battle with cancer.
As The ENQUIRER has reported, René was first diagnosed with cancer in 1999, and underwent surgery that year to remove a “squamous cell carcinoma” from the right side of his neck. In December 2013, the couple was shocked to discover that the cancer had returned. René had part of his tongue removed, and has since undergone more than 130 radiation treatments. Sadly, he can no longer speak.
“René was unable to swallow or eat … and Celine believed he would die,” disclosed gossip columnist and longtime friend Robin Leach. Celine canceled her Las Vegas shows and a planned tour of Asia to care for René – who stepped down as her manager in June. The “Because You Loved Me” singer also revealed that René must be nourished through a feeding tube.
“I am scared of losing him because it’s bad,” said Celine. “But I have to show myself, my husband and my kids that I’m strong, and we’re okay.”
Celine was just 12 years old when she met René – then 38 – in 1980, when her mother sent the music producer Celine’s demo tape. The pair had their first date when the star was 19, and they married on Dec. 17, 1994. Now the “My Heart Will Go On” singer is worth a staggering $720 million – and her show will go on as a tribute to René.
“I’m doing it for him,” Celine said. “I’m doing it for my fans.”
