According to a statement made on Celine Dion’s website on Thursday, Rene Angelil died at his Las Vegas home on January 14, 2016 at the age of 73 after a long battle with throat cancer. Angélil had been on a feeding tube for the last two years, according to his wife, and after a series of procedures in Boston hospitals, he was back living at the family’s Las Vegas home.
The long-time manager and loving husband of Celine Dion was largely responsible for his wife’s career, having discovered her in 1980 after her mother sent him a demo tape of a 12 year old Celine singing. After marrying Dion in 1994, the couple welcomed son Rene-Charles, 14 and 5 year old twin boys Nelson and Eddy. He also has three children from two previous marriages Patrick, Jean Pierre and Anne Marie.
Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his condolences to the Canadian songstress Thursday afternoon, along with many other fans and admirers: “My condolences to @CelineDion, and to the children, friends and loved ones of René Angélil on his passing.”