A visibly emotional Celine Dion paid tribute to her late mother Thérèse Tanguay Dion as she performed on-stage for a concert in Miami last January 17 just hours after the 92-year-old’s death.
The 51-year-old singer was visibly holding back tears but did have to pause in the middle of the concert to assure her fans she was “doing okay,” while adding that she was thankful her whole family was able to say their goodbyes before Thérèse passed away.
“I’m pretty sure that you heard the news about my mom passing away early this morning,” Celine said as the crowd collectively sighed.
But soon after, fans cheered again when she said: “But I’m doing okay and we’re all okay.”
Choking back more tears, Celine continued by saying that her mom had been ill for some time now and that everyone knew it wouldn’t be long before she passed.
Two days before Thérèse died, the family got a call from the nurses who said that “her time was coming soon.”
“So last night I joined my brothers and sisters in Montreal, and I spent the evening at her bedside. We told stories. We sang songs. We hugged each other and we said our goodbyes,” she revealed, which couldn’t help but touch the crowd.
“We are pretty sure that mom waited for us to be all together one more time.”
It was this last statement that pulled at fans’ hearts the most.
As the saying goes, the show must go on and that’s what Celine was able to do with stirring aplomb.
Thérèse Tanguay Dion, nicknamed Maman Dion, had 14 children and was a television host. She was also a dedicated philanthropist.
Celine’s mother was often present at the singer’s performances.
Following her death, Celine paid an emotional tribute on Instagram by sharing a black-and-white childhood photo showing her and her 13 siblings.
The caption read, “Maman, we love you so much… We dedicate tonight’s show to you and I’ll sing to you with all my heart. Love, Céline xx…”
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