Celine Dion's husband dies at 73 after long battle with cancer

Singer's husband René Angélil discovered her when she was 12 and drove her career to stardom

MONTREAL, CANADA: Singer Celine Dion, of My Heart Will Go On (Titanic 2007) fame, announced through her website the sad demise of her husband René Angélil on Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

"It's with profound sadness that we are announcing that René Angélil, 73, died this morning at his Las Vegas home after a courageous battle with cancer. The family wishes to mourn in private," the award-winning Canadian singer's website said. "Other information will be provided in the next few days."

Rene Angelil passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer. https://t.co/JOeLaOfbSB

— Celine Dion (@celinedion) January 14, 2016

The Canadian entertainment manager, who discovered Dion, 47, when she was 12-years-old and drove her career to stardom, married her in 1994 at a lavish wedding in Montreal's Notre Dame Basilica.

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The couple have three sons, René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy. His illness, first diagnosed in 1999, prompted Dion to put  her career on hold in 2014, suspending her Las Vegas residency.

Dion said Angélil supported her later return to the stage.

"My condolences to @CelineDion, and to the children, friends and loved ones of René Angélil on his passing," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted.

My condolences to @CelineDion, and to the children, friends and loved ones of René Angélil on his passing.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 14, 2016

In Montreal, flags were flying at half-staff in honor of Angelil, a spokeswoman for the city's mayor, Denis Coderre, said
on Thursday.

Angélil stepped down as Dion's manager in 2014, turning her career over to a friend of the couple but he remained involved in business decisions. Dion told Good Morning America in early 2015 that Angélil, who had throat cancer, had to eat with the help of a feeding tube three times a day, and was not able to talk or swallow.

Angélil, a Montreal native, first met the French-Canadian singer when she was 12 after she sent him a recorded song she had written with her mother. He agreed to manage Dion in exchange for full control over her career and was said to have mortgaged his home to finance her first album.

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When Dion was 18, Angélil instructed the French-speaking singer to remake her image by changing her hair and capping her teeth, and register in English school so she could record songs for the US

Their marriage was initially opposed by Dion's mother, not only because of their 26-year age gap but because Angélil had three children from two previous unions, the singer told media in 2013. "I have to say that for my mom he was not the prince charming - the ideal prince charming. It was very difficult," Dion told Access Hollywood.com in 2013.

The singer said her mother and family of 13 siblings came to
approve of Angélil. "She had no choice. Love won."

As the news of his demise surfaced, tributes and condolences from famous personalities around the world started pouring in on Twitter:

Heartfelt condolences to my friend @celinedion on the passing of her husband René Angélil.A dear man & great father: https://t.co/uz3ENtwOfd

— Larry King (@kingsthings) January 14, 2016

Sending Celine Dion and her family my love and prayers for strength and peace. #peace #love #light https://t.co/ka55JdYXRt

— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) January 15, 2016

My heart, love and prayers go out to you and your family. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. @celinedion May God's comfort be with you

— Ally Brooke (@AllyBrooke) January 15, 2016

Tribute images of Rene & Celine Dion on marquee @CaesarsPalace tonight. Thanks LasVegas News Bureau pic.twitter.com/1wU3cvsm5S

— Robin Leach (@Robin_Leach) January 15, 2016

I'm so sorry for your loss, @celinedion! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. https://t.co/87zeBPlUJx

— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) January 14, 2016

.@celinedion May God bless you, your children and Rene's children as you grieve the loss of your precious love.

— Rita Wilson (@RitaWilson) January 15, 2016

So sad to hear Celine Dion's Husband Rene Angelil Has died..tune in to @ENews tonight for the latest

— MARIA MENOUNOS (@mariamenounos) January 14, 2016

My deepest condolences go out to Celine Dion, the children and family for the loss of their beloved husband and... https://t.co/6PPXJaRwZM

— Olivia Newton-John (@olivianj) January 15, 2016

I feel so sorry for Celine Dion tonight… I know how much she loved her husband https://t.co/bZmkEz12yA

— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) January 14, 2016

https://twitter.com/StephanMoccio/status/687807369737142272

Prayers out to @celinedion for the loss of her husband, Renè. So sad for your loss.

— Chris Mann (@IamChrisMann) January 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/NYCSteelerfan/status/687778021537878017