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Since the turn of the century, award-winning French-Canadian singer Céline Dion has graced our ears with her illustrious voice. But her voice is simply one of the many reasons why we love this inimitable star. There’s no denying we’ve all hopelessly been moved by her sweet, swelling serenades like Titanic’s famed ‘My Heart Will Go On’ anthem, yet if we were to choose a favourite track from her discography, we’d undoubtedly struggle. After celebrating her 51st birthday earlier this year, Céline announced her next world tour will take off in September and that the release of her 12th studio album is to be expected in November. And with rumours of her return to South Africa as part of the tour (she first performed here in 2008), we thought we’d take a look at a few of the stand-out moments that have made Céline the international treasure she is today.
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1. Her elegant and ethereal hand gestures have mesmerised audiences all over the world – we’re especially fond of her legendary chest bump.
2. Céline’s shoe obsession resonates with our own enthusiasm for heels, pumps, and designer stilettos. The singer reportedly owns a collection of shoes that amounts to at least 10 000 pairs!
3. She adores her mother – a supportive figure in Céline’s life ever since she was first scouted as a teen. There’s nothing like the affection of a mother, and Thérèse’s devotion to her daughter doesn’t go unnoticed.
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3. The ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me Now’ singer is also known among close friends and family as the class clown. Céline may be in the early days of her fifties, but her humour certainly hasn’t aged a bit. From silly dances to silly faces, there’s always laughter in her presence.
4. She surprised a couple during their wedding ceremony in Las Vegas and it was utterly magical.
5. Her outfit at the Met Gala this year was an extravagant, shimmering affair – a truly fitting piece for a diva of her calibre.
6. She’s been named a Goodwill Ambassador by the UN and was appointed UNESCO Artist for Peace in September 1999 following her commitment to the global safeguarding of children. She has also donated more than one million dollars to several philanthropic organisations.
7. Céline was married to husband René Angélil for 21 years until he sadly passed away from cancer in 2016. René was not only her husband, but also her loyal manager. Together, the pair made a phenomenally successful team.
8. She’s not afraid to be herself, and does so unapologetically. Her zest for life is beautifully on display in this recent TV appearance she did for the Late Late Show segment ‘Carpool Karaoke’.
9. Céline appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show a record 27 times. She was a welcome guest, and used the platform to promote her career, make the audience laugh, and share a few aspects of her personal life.
10. And lastly, the incomparable singer is a loving mom to her three boys. She beams with pride when she talks about her sons and has opened up about how she struggled to conceive, having suffered a miscarriage, too. She continues to inspire us daily and her career and life paints an extraordinary picture of triumph in adversity.
By Features Writer Marike Watson
