Celine Dion’s emotional tribute as mother Therese dies aged 92

Celine Dion’s mother Therese Tanguay Dion has passed away at the age of 92, according to Canadian news outlet Radio-Canada.

The mother-of-14, who penned the superstar’s very first hit song ‘It Was Only a Dream’, is reported to have died on Thursday evening surrounded by her family.

Celine, 51, was due to play a show in Miami, Florida, on Friday evening (local time) and decided to go ahead with the performance, despite the sad news, instead dedicating the show to her mother’s memory.

“Maman, we love you so much,” she wrote on Instagram, alongside a family photograph which showed Therese with all of her children. “We dedicate tonight’s show to you and I’ll sing to you with all my heart. Love, Céline xx.”

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Fans expressed their condolences and paid tribute to Maman Dion on social media, with one person writing: “I’m so sorry for your loss. My sincere condolences to you and your family.”

Another said: “We are so proud of you and how strong you are. We love you! Be strong queen!” While another commented: “Prayers to you and your family we miss you Maman Dion.”

Quebec Premier Francois Legault also shared a public tribute to Tanguay on Twitter. He wrote: “Sad to learn of the death of Thérèse Dion, Maman Dion for all Quebecers. A remarkable woman, so generous, so loving, who devoted her whole life to the well-being of her family. Our large Quebec family mourns his departure. My condolences to the Dion family.”

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The tragic news comes just four years after the ‘My Heart Will Go On’ singer lost her husband and manager Rene, who passed away in 2016 aged 73 following a battle with cancer.

Celine took a year out from music to care for her husband – with whom she shared sons René-Charles, Eddy and Nelson – and last year she revealed that she granted his dying wish to see her perform on stage one last time, albeit from the comfort of their home via television.

“For him it was very important because I took a year off to take care of him, but towards the end he said to me, ‘I need to see you go on stage and sing, I want to make sure, I need to see it’,” the singer told The Mirror.

“I didn’t feel like partying or putting on short dresses and feathers,” she added. “But what kept me doing was that I thought of him. I did it for him.”