Celine Dion has retuned to Las Vegas to continue her Caesars Palace residency following a period of mourning for her late husband.
The show opened with a touching video tribute to René Angélil, featuring footage of his marriage to Celine and the couple’s three children, 15-year-old René-Charle,s and five-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy.
The tribute video also included a poignant quote from Celine in which she vowed to continue performing after her husband’s death.
“I understand that my career was in a way his masterpiece, his song, his symphony,” the quote read.
“The idea of leaving it unfinished would have hurt him terribly. I realised that if he ever left us, I would have to continue without him, for him.”
After the tribute video, Celine received a standing ovation as she took to the stage. She opened the stage with “With One More Look at You/Watch Closely Now” from A Star Is Born.
An emotional Celine then thanked the audience for their support.
“Through my life, I only had highs from my husband, who sat out here night after night,” she told the crowd.
“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,” she said.
She continued: “He’s always been on stage with me, and nothing will ever change that.”
The singer then took her audience “all the way back in time,” launching into her very first US single, “Where Does My Heart Beat Now.”
Another emotional moment came during the singer’s iconic hit, “All by Myself,” when Celine became overwhelmed with emotion and had to take a moment for herself before finishing the song.
At the end of the show, she thanked her devoted fans once again for supporting her return to the stage.
“This was the most difficult show I’ve done in my whole life, and I thank you very much,” she said before closing the show with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
