René Angélil passed away from cancer in 2016

Global superstar Celine Dion and her late husband René Angélil were the picture of romance before René’s passing eight years ago. The husband and wife were married for over two decades, welcomed three children together and shared many heartwarming and tender moments throughout their 21-year union.

After living with cancer for over a decade, René succumbed to the disease and died on 14 January 2016. The couple, who shared a 26-year age gap, remained totally devoted to one another through thick and thin.

Having weathered storms including René’s health battles and the couple’s fertility treatments, the lovebirds persevered thanks to their rock-solid relationship. As the anniversary of René’s death approaches, here are the most tender moments from their love story…

Celine Dion and René Angélil’s love story

Blossoming romance

René first met aspiring singer, Celine, when she was just 12 years old. Their relationship began as professional when the music producer would work as her manager. Professional turned romantic when the My Heart Will Go On singer turned 20, around the time Celine had won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988.

After getting engaged on the singer’s 25th birthday, the couple said “I do” a year later in René’s birthplace Montreal, at the Notre-Dame Basilica. Celine wore a silk creation by Mirella and Steve Gentile – complete with a 20-foot train – and an enormous, Swarovski-crystal tiara.

Star quality

Celine and René made a glamorous appearance at the 1999 American Music Awards, where Celine won Favourite Pop/Rock Female Artist of the Year. It marked the first of many achievements that the husband-and-wife team would accomplish together.

Turn of the millennium

Five years into their marriage, Celine and René renewed their wedding vows in an Orthodox ceremony at Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas, 2000. The ceremony was meant to honour René’s Syrian and Lebanese roots.

Starting a family

The husband and wife were extremely open about their fertility journey. They endured many rounds of fertility treatments and two operations to improve her chances of conceiving and, in January 2001, Celine welcomed the couple’s first child, René-Charles.

The little boy was baptised in July at the chapel of the Notre-Dame Basilica, where his proud parents had married six years earlier.

Sin City

The loved-up pair attended a Grammy Awards after-party in 2002, shortly after Celine announced an upcoming three-year residency in Las Vegas, named A New Day…

The move was deemed risky at the time, but the gamble would pay off and Celine ended up extending the run of shows by a further two years. To date, the residency has grossed more than $500 million.

Celine dominates Vegas

The couple are pictured at Caesar’s Palace following the debut of Celine’s Las Vegas residency in 2003. The continually sold-out show proved wildly successful, making the singer the “most profitable music act in Las Vegas” since Elvis Presley, according to Market Watch.

Walk of Fame

The songbird was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004, with her proud husband René cheering her on at the ceremony.

Awards Aplenty