Losing someone we love is one of the hardest experiences in life. People cope with grief in different ways, and for some, music becomes a way to heal the pain and express emotion that words can’t capture.
On February 23, 2016, Celine Dion made an emotional return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to pay tribute to her late husband, René Angélil.
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The show began with a touching montage of photos and videos from Angélil’s life. His loving wife expressed her feeling, saying, “I understood that my career was in a way his masterpiece, his song, his symphony. The idea of leaving it unfinished would have hurt him terribly. I realized that if he ever left us, I would have to continue without him, for him.”
As the lights dimmed, the curtains slowly opened to reveal Dion, standing alone in a shimmering black gown adorned with stars. The audience immediately rose to their feet and applauded her with a standing ovation.
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With emotion in her voice, she began singing “With One More Look at You,” her voice occasionally faltering with raw emotion. After finishing, she wiped away tears and spoke softly to the audience, her gratitude and vulnerability clear in the moment.
“I did rehearse this song in my closet and it went way better than that,” Dion said. “Through my life I only had eyes for my husband, who sat out here night after night. People thought that I was looking at him, but I didn’t need to because every time I closed my eyes, I felt René on stage with me — whether he was seated in his seat right there, in the balcony, backstage or at home with the kids. He’s always been on stage with me and nothing will ever change that.”
