Celine Dion exuded strength as she continued to prove the show must go on.
Dion made her first televised singing performance at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards since the passing of her husband, Rene Angelil, and her brother in January. Angelil passed away in January after a long battle with throat cancer. He was two days shy of his 74th birthday—which was the day Dion’s brother died.
The “Because You Loved Me” singer performed a rendition of Angelil’s favorite song, Queen’s “The Show Must Go On.”
Moments after the performance, son René-Charles emerged on stage to present her with the Icon Award for lifetime achievement—a gesture that surprised the 48-year-old singer.
“To try to perform that song without collapsing was big enough,” she said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “and then I turned around and I saw my son. As a mother, I really, through this whole process of our new life, wanted to be strong.”
“I thought I was going to make it through the whole night without tears and show strength, and love won,” she said. “I just collapsed. I’m very thankful for the award and proud of my family so much.”
