Meet Celine Dion's husband René Angélil - A look back a their marriage

25 July 2024, 12:18

Celine Dion met husband René at a very young age — Celine Dion met husband René at just 11 years old. Picture: Getty

By Zoe Adams

What happened to Celine Dion's husband? What was the age gap between them? And how long were they married for? Here's a look back at her marriage to partner René Angélil.

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Celine Dion has just released her tell-all documentary I Am: Celine which has given fans a closer look at her battle with health condition Stiff Person Syndrome, her family and children and even mentioned her late husband René Angélil.

Celine, who lives in Las Vegas, reveals plenty of new footage from her past and present life in her new Amazon Video show but there's one person missing and that's her partner who sadly died nearly a decade ago.

Celine and René's romantic relationship was of course, controversial at times, due to how their relationship started and their age gap, but she has always maintained how in love she was and has openly spoken about how much she misses him since his death in 2016. In fact, she even considers herself still married to him.

Listen now on Global Player, the official Heart app: Take That: This Life

So who was Celine's husband René Angélil? When did they get together and get married? And what did he die of? Here's a closer look at her partner and marriage.

Celine Dion married husband René when she was 26 years old. Picture: Getty

Who was Celine Dion's husband René Angélil?

Born in Montreal Canada, René also had a strong passion for music and was a musical producer, talent manager and singer. In fact, it was his job in the entertainment industry that led to him meeting his future wife.

Prior to Celine, he was married twice to Denyse Duquette from 1966-1972 and to singer Anne Renée from 1974-1980.

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How did Celine Dion meet husband René Angélil and when did they marry?

Much of the controversy around Celine's relationship comes from how they met as he first came across the hit singer when she was just 12 years old.

In 1980, he invited her to audition for him after he was sent a tape of her singing. Following that, René became her manager and was so passionate about her talent, he even remortgaged his house to fund her first album.

Reports suggested they started a romantic relationship when she was 18 years old and they married eight years later.

The couple were still together when René passed in 2016, aged 73.

Celine Dion had three sons with her late husband René. Picture: Getty

What was the age gap between Celine Dion and her husband?

In total, there were 26 years between Celine and René. They officially tied the knot when she was 26 making him 52 at the time of their nuptials.

What did Celine Dion's husband die of?

René died just two days before his 74th birthday after a battle with throat cancer. He passed in his home in Las Vegas after a long fight with the disease.

Talking about his passing two years later, Celine opened up about her heartbreak and admitted she would "grieve for the rest of her life" and that she "misses him a lot".