René Angélil, musician and husband of Celine Dion, dies at 73

“Rene Angelil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer.” – Celine Dion’s reps confirmed with CNN.

“The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment; more details will be provided at a later time.” - Celine’s website read.

On June 2014, René Angélil had resigned as Celine’s manager to focus on treatment of his throat cancer. On August 2014, Celine Dion temporarily took a pause to her career to care for her husband.

Dion and Angélil first met when Dion was 12 years old. One of Dion’s brothers sent Rene Angelil a record of Dion, persuaded him to listen.

Being overwhelmed after listening to Dion’s voice, Rene Angelil decided to mortgage his house in order to produce a debut album for Dion, named La Voix du Bon Dieu.

Later in 1988, Celine Dion became a superstar and achieved various awards, including the championship of Eurovision in Dublin, Ireland. At that time, Dion and Angélil began their relationship.

In 1992, Celine Dion was released and led every music chart. Beauty and the Beast – a theme song for the movie Beauty and the Beast, recorded by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson - became a golden hit and gained Dion an Oscar and a Grammy.

After 22 years of marriage, Celine Dion and René Angélil have 3 children, namely Réne-Charles (14), twin Nelson Eddy (5).