INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

Céline Dion Breaks Down During Emotional Tribute To Late Husband [Video]

By Emily Hutchinson
Published on: 00:26 PST, Feb 4, 2016

Céline Dion broke down during an emotional Las Vegas appearance following the death of her husband, René Angélil.

Dion was visibly upset during the celebration of life ceremony for Angélil on February 3, which took place at the location of Céline’s residency shows at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum in Las Vegas.

But while Céline was visibly upset while speaking to mourners at the event, Dion told those who gathered to remember René Angélil that she could “feel his love in the room.”

“I feel his strength and his warmth being reflected in all of you,” Dion told those who gathered for the Las Vegas tribute, according to People.

“René always surrounded me with the best people who believed in us and always worked so hard on our behalf.”

Céline Dion went on to tell the audience on the refectory evening that Caesars Palace has become her “home away from home” as she has performed regular shows there since 2003, but admitted that she didn’t quite feel at home during her big return.

“This is my home away from home,” Dion said, “At the same time I’m supposed to feel extremely comfortable being home and right now I’m not sure how comfortable I feel.”

Céline Dion then closed out the emotional night, which was attended by an estimate 4,000 guests with thousands more watching via an online live stream, “on behalf of my family, thank you again for being here with us this evening for this beautiful tribute to mon amour. René I love you, so much, merci, good night.”

René Angélil, Céline Dion’s husband of more than 20 years, passed away on January 14 after battling throat cancer. Just days after Angélil’s death, Céline’s brother, Daniel, also passed away after losing his battle against brain, tongue, and throat cancer, according to Entertainment Tonight.

Dion’s latest public memorial for her late husband comes just days after the “One Heart” singer issued a public statement to thank her fans following what she described as being a “most difficult time” for herself and her family.

“My family and I are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support from so many people who have touched our lives during these past few days,” Céline Dion said in an official statement published on her official website on January 29.

“We have felt your love for René, and your prayers and compassion have helped us during this most difficult time … more than you’ll ever know. I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Dion said.

Céline Dion also took to social media this week to share a beautiful throwback photo of herself and René as she updated her profile picture to a candid shot of herself and her late husband sharing an embrace on her official Facebook page.

People is reporting that Dion is understandably still “heartbroken” by her loss, but will be officially returning to the Caesars Palace stage to continue her popular residency shows on February 23.

“That’s what René would want. He wants her to perform and come back,” a source recently told People of Dion’s plans to return to what she described as her “home away from home” this week. “He knew her better than anybody and he probably knows that’s what she needs too, to perform.”

Céline also told the L.A. Times last year that her late husband always encouraged her to return to the stage, telling the site that “it was René’s wish that I come back” after she returned to Las Vegas in August, 2015, following a brief hiatus in which she cared for her ailing partner.

Watch Céline Dion’s emotional message to mourners below, or at reneangelilcelebrationoflife.com.

[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

Share this article: Céline Dion Breaks Down During Emotional Tribute To Late Husband [Video]
Celine Dion
More from Inquisitr