Céline Dion

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Biography

Céline Marie Claudette Dion , , (; born March 30, 1968), is a Canada|Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec|Charlemagne , Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record.. " Canadian Online Explorer|Canoe Jam! ". Retrieved September 13, 2007. In 1990, she released the English-language album Unison (Celine Dion album)|Unison , establishing herself as a viable pop artist in North America and other English-speaking areas of the world.

Dion had first gained international recognition in the 1980s by winning both the 1982 Yamaha (manufacturer)|Yamaha World Popular Song Festival and the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest .Bliss, Karen. "25 Years of Canadian Artists." Canadian Musician . March 1, 2004, p. 34. ISSN: 07089635 Following a series of French albums in the early 1980s, she signed on to Sony Music|CBS Records Canada in 1986. During the 1990s, with the help of Angélil, she achieved worldwide fame after signing with Epic Records and releasing several English albums along with additional French albums, becoming one of the most successful artists in pop music history.Taylor, Chuck. "Epic/550's Dion offers Hits." Billboard . November 6, 1999, p. 1."". CNN . October 22, 2002. Retrieved September 13, 2007. However, in 1999 at the height of her success, Dion announced a hiatus from entertainment in order to start a family and spend time with her husband, who had been diagnosed with cancer.Celine Dion. "Interview with Celine Dion." Peter Nansbridge. The National. With Alison Smith. CBC Television|CBC-TV . March 28, 2002. Transcript. She returned to the top of pop music in 2002 and signed a three-year (later extended to almost five years) contract to perform nightly in a five-star theatrical show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace , Paradise, Nevada .Helligar, Jeremy. "Céline Dion livin' la vida Vegas!." Us . March 31, 2003, p. 56."". (April 15, 2002). Digital Journal Retrieved (October 12, 2009)

Dion's music has been influenced by genres ranging from rock and Rhythm and blues|R& B to Gospel music|gospel and European classical music|classical . While her releases have often received mixed critical reception, she is renowned for her technically skilled and powerful vocals.Alexander, Charles P. ". Time (Magazine)|Time . March 7, 1994Gardner, Elysa. Review: Falling Into You . Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, Calif.: November 16, 1997, p. 68 Dion is the best-selling Canadian artist of all time,"". (2000-1-06). Allbusiness. Retrieved October 12, 2009.Learn, Josh "". The Brock Press . Retrieved October 12, 2009. is the second best-selling female artist in the US during the Nielsen SoundScan era, http://www.billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/ask-billboard-battle-of-the-divas-round-1004007651.story and is the only female artist to have two singles sell more than a million copies in the UK. Official Charts Company . Retrieved October 3, 2010. In addition, her 1995 album '' D'eux , is the best-selling French-language album of all time."" May 29, 2007. CBC . Retrieved October 12, 2009. In 2004, after surpassing 175 million in album sales worldwide, she was presented with the Chopard Diamond award|Chopard Diamond Award at the World Music Awards for becoming the best-selling female artist of all time. Canada.com Retrieved December 1, 2010 CTV News Retrieved December 1, 2010 According to Sony Music Entertainment , Dion has sold over 200 million albums worldwide.

Life and career

Childhood and early beginnings

The youngest of 14 children born to Adhémar Dion and Thérèse Dion|Thérèse Tanguay , both of French-Canadian descent, Celine Dion was raised a Roman Catholic in a poverty-stricken, but, by her own account, happy home in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada."Profiles of Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias, Moby." Paula Zahn, Charles Molineaux, Gail O'Neill. People in the News . May 18, 2002. Transcript. Music had always been a part of the family (Dion was named after the song Céline , recorded by French singer Hugues Aufray two years before her birth ). On the 13th of August 1973, (at the age of five) the young Céline did her first public appearance at her brother Michel's marriage, and performed Christine Charbonneau 's song Du fil des aiguilles et du coton . http://disneyparis21.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/celine-ma-vie/," Céline Dion. Ma vie, French Biography. Du fil des aiguilles et du coton, by Christine Charbonneau". Then after she grew up singing with her siblings in her parents' small piano bar called Le Vieux Baril . From an early age Dion had dreamed of being a performer.Alexander, Charles P. ". Time (Magazine)|Time . March 7, 1994. Retrieved April 7, 2008. In a 1994 interview with People (magazine)|People magazine, she recalled, "I missed my family and my home, but I don't regret having lost my adolescence. I had one dream: I wanted to be a singer."

At age 12, Dion collaborated with her mother and her brother Jacques to compose her first song, " Ce n'était qu'un rêve " ("It Was Only a Dream"). Her brother Michel Dondalinger Dion sent the recording to music manager René Angélil, whose name he discovered on the back of a Ginette Reno album. Angélil was moved to tears by Dion's voice, and decided to make her a star. In 1981, he mortgaged his home to fund her first record, La voix du bon Dieu ("The Voice of the Good God"), which later became a local number-one hit and made Dion an instant star in Quebec. Her popularity spread to other parts of the world when she competed in the 1982 Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo, Japan, and won the musician's award for "Top Performer" as well as the gold medal for "Best Song" with " Tellement j'ai d'amour pour toi " ("I Have So Much Love for You").

By 1983, in addition to becoming the first Canadian artist to receive a gold record in France for the single " D'amour ou d'amitié " ("Of Love or of Friendship"), Dion had also won several Félix Award s, including "Best Female performer" and "Discovery of the Year"."." The Biography Channel . September 13, 2007. Further success in Europe, Asia, and Australia came when Dion represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest|Switzerland in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Ne partez pas sans moi (''Don't Go Without Me'') and won the contest by a close margin in Dublin , Ireland. isbn= 978-1-84442-994-3. However, American success was yet to come, partly because she was exclusively a Francophone artist.Alexander, Charles P. "The Arts & Media/Music: At Age Five She Belted Out French pop tunes standing atop tables." Time International . February 28, 1994. pg 44. At eighteen, after seeing a Michael Jackson performance, Dion told Angélil that she wanted to be a star like Jackson. provided by VH1 .com . Retrieved August 16, 2005. Though confident in her talent, Angélil realized that her image needed to be changed in order for her to be marketed worldwide. Dion receded from the spotlight for a number of months, during which she underwent dental surgery to improve her appearance, and was sent to the École Berlitz in 1989 to polish her English.

In 1989, during a concert on Incognito Tour , Dion injured her vocal chords|voice . She consulted the Otolaryngology|otorhinolaryngologist William Gould.Germain, Georges-Hébert (2010). René Angélil: Derrière le conte de fées. Michel Lafon. p. 279-280. He gave her an ultimatum: have surgery on her vocal cords, or not utilize them at all for three weeks. Dion chose the latter and underwent a vocal formation with William Riley, because, according to Gould and Riley, she "doesn't know singing, she made a bad use of her vocal cords".

Career breakthrough: 1990–1992

Two years after she had learned English, Dion made her debut into the Anglophone market with Unison (Celine Dion album)|Unison (1990), the lead single having originally been recorded by Laura Branigan . She incorporated the help of many established musicians, including Vito Luprano and Canadian producer David Foster .Alexander, Charles P. ". Time (Magazine)|Time . March 7, 1994. The album was largely influenced by 1980s soft rock music that quickly found a niche within the adult contemporary radio format. Unison also hit the right notes with critics: Jim Faber of Entertainment Weekly wrote that Dion's vocals were "tastefully unadorned", and that she never attempted to "bring off styles that are beyond her". Stephen Erlewine of Allmusic declared it as, "a fine, sophisticated American debut." Singles from the album included " (If There Was) Any Other Way ", " The Last to Know ", " Unison (song)#Céline Dion version|Unison ", and " Where Does My Heart Beat Now ", a mid-tempo soft-rock ballad which made prominent use of the electric guitar. The latter became her first single to reach the top-ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100| Billboard Hot 100 , peaking at number-four. The album established Dion as a rising singer in the United States, and across Continental Europe and Asia.

In 1991, Dion was also a soloist in Voices That Care , a tribute to American troops fighting in Operation Desert Storm . Dion's real international breakthrough came when she duetted with Peabo Bryson on the title track to Disney 's animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast (1991). The song captured a musical style that Dion would utilize in the future: sweeping, classically influenced ballads with soft instrumentation. Both a critical and commercial hit, the song became her second U.S. top-ten single, and won the Academy Award for Best Song , and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal .
" Beauty and the Beast (Disney song)|Beauty and the Beast " was featured on Dion's 1992 Celine Dion (album)|self-titled album , which, like her debut, had a strong rock influence combined with elements of soul and classical music. Owing to the success of the lead-off single and her collaboration with Foster and Diane Warren , the album was as well received as Unison . Other singles that achieved moderate success included " If You Asked Me To#Céline Dion version|If You Asked Me To " (a cover version|cover of Patti LaBelle 's song from the 1989 movie Licence to Kill ) which peaked at number-four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100| Billboard Hot 100 , the gospel-tinged " Love Can Move Mountains ", and " Nothing Broken But My Heart ".

As with Dion's earlier releases, the album had an overtone of love. Also during this time, Dion released the Francophone album Dion chante Plamondon in 1991. The album consisted mostly of covers, but included 4 new songs, which included " Des mots qui sonnent (song)|Des mots qui sonnent ", " Je danse dans ma tête ", " Quelqu'un que j'aime, quelqu'un qui m'aime " and " L'amour existe encore ". It was originally released in Canada and France during the 1991–1992 period, but then got an international release in 1994, the first French Celine Dion album to do so. " Un garçon pas comme les autres (Ziggy) " became a smash hit in France, reaching number-two and being certified gold. In Quebec, the album was certified Gold the day it was released.

By 1992 Unison , Céline Dion , and media appearances had propelled Dion to superstardom in North America. She had achieved one of her main objectives: wedging her way into the Anglophone market and achieving fame. However, while she was experiencing rising success in the U.S., her French fans in Canada criticized her for neglecting them."Celine Dion." Newsmakers 1995 , Issue 4. Gale Research, 1995. She would later regain her fan base at the Félix Award show, where, after winning "English Artist of the Year", she openly refused to accept the award. She asserted that she was—and would always be—a French, not an English, artist. Apart from her commercial success, there were also changes in Dion's personal life, as Angélil, who was twenty-six years her senior, transitioned from manager to lover. However, the relationship was kept a secret as they both feared that the public would find their relations inappropriate."Celine Dion." Contemporary Musicians, Volume 25 . Gale Group, 1999.

Popularity established: 1993–1995

In 1993, Dion announced her feelings for her manager by declaring him "the colour of love" in the dedication section of her third English-language album The Colour of My Love . However, instead of criticizing their relationship as Dion had feared, fans embraced the couple.Alexander, Charles P. ". Time (Magazine)|Time . March 7, 1994. Retrieved April 9, 2008. Eventually, Angélil and Dion married in an extravagant wedding ceremony in December 1994, which was broadcast live on Canadian television.

As it was dedicated to her manager, the album's motif focused on love and romance.. Plugged in . Retrieved September 13, 2007. It became her most successful record up to that point, selling more than six million copies in the U.S., two million in Canada, and peaking at number-one in many countries. The album also spawned Dion's first U.S., Canadian, and Australian number-one single " The Power of Love (Celine Dion)|The Power of Love " (a remake of Jennifer Rush 's 1985 hit), which would become her signature song|signature hit until she reached new career heights in the late 1990s. The single " When I Fall in Love#Céline Dion and Clive Griffin version|When I Fall in Love ", a duet with Clive Griffin , achieved moderate success on the U.S. and Canadian charts, and was nominated for two Grammy Awards, winning one. The Colour of My Love also became Dion's first major hit in Europe, and in particular the United Kingdom. Both the album and the single " Think Twice (song)|Think Twice " simultaneously occupied the top of the British charts for five consecutive weeks. "Think Twice", which remained at number-one for seven weeks, eventually became the fourth single by a female artist to sell in excess of one million copies in the UK, while the album was eventually certified five-times platinum for two-million copies sold. BPI

Dion kept to her French roots and continued to release many Francophone recordings between each English record."Celine Dion." Compton's by Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica . 2005. Generally, they achieved more credibility than her English-language works. She released '' À l'Olympia '', a live album that was recorded during one of Dion's concerts at the Paris Olympia in 1994. It had one promotional single, a live version of " Calling You#Céline Dion version|Calling You ", which peaked at seventy-five on the French Singles Chart. She also recorded a bilingual version of Petit Papa Noël with Alvin and the Chipmunks for the 1994 holiday album A Very Merry Chipmunk . '' D'eux (also known as The French Album'' in the United States), was released in 1995, and it would go on to become the best-selling French-language album of all time. The album was mostly written and produced by Jean-Jacques Goldman , and amassed huge success with the singles " Pour que tu m'aimes encore " and " Je sais pas ". "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" reached number 1 in France and stayed at the top position for twelve weeks. It was later certified Platinum in France.. Retrieved October 12, 2009. The single also reached the top ten in the UK and Ireland, a rare accomplishment for a French song. The second single off the album, "Je sais pas", reached number-one on the French Singles Chart as well and was certified Silver in France.. Retrieved October 12, 2009. These songs would later become "If That's What It Takes" and "I Don't Know" on Dion's next English album, Falling into You .

During the mid-1990s, Dion's albums continued to be constructed on the basis of melodramatic ballads, but also with up-tempo pop and adult contemporary themed music.Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. . Allmusic. Retrieved October 12, 2009. She collaborated with talented craftsman such as Jim Steinman and David Foster who helped her devise more adult contemporary songs.. All Music. Retrieved October 12, 2009.Alexander, Charles. "". Time Magazine . Retrieved October 12, 2009. While critical reviews fluctuated, Dion's releases performed increasingly well on the international charts, and in 1996 she won the World Music Award for "World’s Best-selling Canadian Female Recording Artist of the Year" for the third time. By the mid-1990s, she had established herself as one of the List of best-selling music artists|best-selling artists in the world .Jerome, Jim. "The Dream That Drives Her. (Singer Celine Dion) (Interview)." Ladies Home Journal . November 1, 1997. 146(4).

Worldwide commercial success: 1996–1999

Falling into You (1996), Dion's fourth English-language album, presented the singer at the height of her popularity, and showed a further progression of her music. In an attempt to reach a wider audience, the album combined many elements, such as complex orchestral sounds, African chanting and elaborate musical effects. Additionally, instruments like the violin, Spanish guitar , trombone , the cavaquinho and saxophone created a new sound. The singles encompassed a variety of musical styles. The title track " Falling into You (song)|Falling into You " and " River Deep - Mountain High|River Deep, Mountain High " (a Tina Turner cover) made prominent use of percussion instruments; " It's All Coming Back to Me Now#Céline Dion|It's All Coming Back to Me Now " (a remake of Jim Steinman 's song) and a remake of Eric Carmen 's " All by Myself (Celine Dion version)|All by Myself " kept their soft-rock atmosphere, but were combined with the classical sound of the piano; and the number-one single " Because You Loved Me ", which was written by Diane Warren, was a ballad that served as the theme to the 1996 film Up Close & Personal .

Falling into You garnered career-best reviews for Dion. While Dan Leroy wrote that it was not very different from her previous work, and Stephen Holden of The New York Times and Natalie Nichols of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the album was formulaic,Stephen, Holden. Review: Falling into you . New York Times . (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York, N.Y.: April 14, 1996. pp. 2.30, 2 pgsNichols, Natalie. Pop music review: The Grammy Winner is Charming At the Universal Amphitheatre But Her Singing Still Lacks Emotional Connection . Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles: March 27, 1997. p. 47 other critics, such as Chuck Eddy of Entertainment Weekly , Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AMG and Daniel Durchholz, lavished the album as "compelling", "passionate", "stylish", "elegant" and "remarkably well-crafted". Falling Into You became Dion's most critically and commercially successful album: it topped the charts in many countries and became one of the best-selling albums of all time. In the United States, the album reached number-one, MTV News . Retrieved December 31, 2009. and was later certified 11x Platinum for over 11 million copies shipped. In Canada, the album was certified diamond for over one million copies shipped. CRIA . Retrieved December 31, 2009. The IFPI certified Falling into You 9x Platinum, an accolade that has been given to only two other albums in history, with one of the two being Dion's own album, '' Let's Talk About Love ''. The album also won Grammy Award s for Best Pop Album , and the academy's highest honor Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year ."." Artistdirect.com . Retrieved September 13, 2007. Dion's status on the world stage was further solidified when she was asked to perform " The Power of the Dream " at the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games .Carwell, Nikea. "Over the Years." Variety . November 13, 2000. p. 66. Volume: 380; Number: 13. ISSN: 00422738. In March 1996, Dion launched the Falling into You Tour in support of her new album, giving concerts around the world for over a year.

Dion followed Falling into You with '' Let's Talk About Love '' (1997), which was publicized as its sequel. The recording process took place in London, New York City, and Los Angeles, and featured a host of special guests, such as Barbra Streisand on " Tell Him (Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion song)|Tell Him "; the Bee Gees on " Immortality (Celine Dion song)|Immortality "; and world-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti on " I Hate You Then I Love You ". Other musicians included Carole King , George Martin|Sir George Martin , Bryan Adams and Jamaica n singer Diana King , who added a reggae tinge to " Treat Her Like a Lady (Celine Dion song)|Treat Her Like a Lady ".Dion, Celine. Junior Canadian Encyclopedia (2002) . Historica Foundation of Canada. 2002. As with Falling into You , ''Let's Talk About Love'' was a major success for Dion, reaching number-one all over the world, attaining platinum status in twenty-four sales territories, and becoming Dion's fastest selling album of her career. In the United States, the album topped the chart in its seventh week of release, and was later certified 10x Platinum in the U.S. for over 10 million copies shipped. In Canada, the album sold 230,212 copies in its first week of release, which became, and still is, a record. It was eventually certified diamond in Canada for over 1 million copies shipped. CRIA . Retrieved December 31, 2009. Google Books . Retrieved December 31, 2009. The most successful single from the album became the classical music|classically influenced ballad " My Heart Will Go On ", which was written and composed by James Horner and Will Jennings , and produced by Horner and Walter Afanasieff . Serving as the love theme for the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic , the song topped the charts across the world, and became Dion's signature song ; as well as winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song .. Goldenglobes.org . Retrieved October 22, 2009. The song also gave Dion two Grammy Awards for " Best Female Pop Vocal Performance " and the most coveted " Record of the Year ", (the song itself won four awards, but two were presented to the songwriters)."." CNN . February 24, 1999. Retrieved September 13, 2007. "My Heart Will Go On" and "Think Twice" made her the only female artist in the UK to have two singles to sell more than a million copies.. '' 'People are jealous' ''. December 10, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2008. In support of her album, Dion embarked on the Let's Talk About Love Tour between 1998 and 1999."". Rolling Stone . August 6, 1998. Retrieved July 29, 2008.

Dion ended the 1990s with three more extremely successful albums—the Christmas music|Christmas album These Are Special Times (1998), the French-language album, '' S'il suffisait d'aimer , and the compilation album All the Way... A Decade of Song '' (1999).Taylor, Chuck. "Epic/550's Dion offers Hits." Billboard . November 6, 1999. p. 1. On These Are Special Times , Dion became more involved in the writing process. She co-wrote the song, "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day" along with Ric Wake and Peter Zizzo. AllMusic Retrieved 2011-12-10 The album was her most classically influenced yet, with orchestral arrangements found on virtually every track.Lewis, Randy. "Album Review / Pop; Celine Dion Aims to Be the Christmas Star; These Are Special Times . Los Angeles Times . October 1998. F-28. " I'm Your Angel ", a duet with R. Kelly , became Dion's fourth U.S. number one single, and another hit single across the world. All the Way... A Decade of Song drew together her most successful hits coupled with seven new songs, including the lead off single " That's the Way It Is (Celine Dion song)|That's the Way It Is ", a cover of Roberta Flack 's " The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face ", and " All the Way (Frank Sinatra song)|All the Way ", a duet with Frank Sinatra . The album itself was also extremely successful worldwide, reaching number-one in the United States for three weeks. The album was later certified 7x Platinum in the U.S. for 7 million copies shipped. All the Way... A Decade of Song also topped the charts in the UK, Every Hit . Retrieved December 31, 2009. Canada, Jam.canoe.ca . Retrieved December 31, 2009. and Australia. Her last French-language studio album of the 1990s, ''S'il suffisait d'aimer , was very successful as well, topping the charts in every major French-speaking country, including France, Les Charts . Retrieved December 31, 2009. Switzerland, Hit Parade'' Belgium Wallonia, Ultra Top . Retrieved December 31, 2009. and Canada. In France, the album was certified diamond, selling 1.5& nbsp;million copies. SNEP . Retrieved December 31, 2009. By the end of the 1990s, Celine Dion had sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, and had won a slew of industry awards.Taylor, Chuck. "Epic/550's Dion offers Hits." Billboard . November 6, 1999. p. 1 Her status as one of the music industry's biggest pop divas was further solidified when she was asked to perform on VH1 's Divas Live special in 1998, with superstars Aretha Franklin , Gloria Estefan , Shania Twain and Mariah Carey .Macdonald, Patrick (October 8, 1998) "". Seattle Times . Retrieved October 22, 2009. That year she also received two of the highest honours from her home country: "Officer of the Order of Canada for Outstanding Contribution to the World of Contemporary Music" and "Officer of the National Order of Quebec ". A year later she was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame , and was honoured with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame .

During this time, the pop-rock genre that was more noticeable in her earlier releases, was replaced by a more adult contemporary feel. However, the theme of "love" remained in most of her releases, which led to some critics dismissing her music as banal. Other critics, like Elysa Gardner and Jose F. Promis, praised her vocals during this period, describing it as a "technical marvel".Gardner, Elysa. Review: Falling Into You. Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, Calif.: November 16, 1997, p. 68 All Music . Retrieved 2010-2-27. However, others, like Steve Dollar, who reviewed These Are Special Times , stated that Dion is a "vocal Olympian for whom there ain't no mountain—or scale—high enough."Dollar, Steve. Review: These Are Special Times. The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia: November 3, 1998. p. C.01

Career break: 2000–2002

After releasing and promoting thirteen albums during the 1990s, Dion stated that she needed to settle down, and announced on her latest album All the Way... A Decade of Song , that she needed to take a step back from the spotlight and enjoy life. Angélil's diagnosis with Esophageal cancer|throat cancer also prompted her to hiatus.King, Larry. Larry King Live . Personal Interview Interview With Celine Dion. CNN . March 26, 2002. While on break, Dion was unable to escape the spotlight. In 2000, the National Enquirer published a false story about the singer. Brandishing a picture of Dion and her husband, the magazine misquoted Dion, printing the headline, "Celine& nbsp;— 'I'm Pregnant With Twins!'". "Celine sues US tabloid for $20& nbsp;m". February 29, 2000. Retrieved May 15, 2007. Dion later sued the magazine for more than twenty million dollars.. " Celine Dion Sues National Enquirer Over Twin Pregnancy Story." February 29, 2000. Retrieved May 15, 2007. The editors of the Enquirer printed an apology and a full retraction to Dion in the next issue, and donated money to the American Cancer Society in honor of Dion and her husband. A year after the incident, after undergoing fertility treatments, Dion gave birth to a son, René-Charles Dion Angélil, on January 25, 2001, in Florida.. "Celine Dion Gives Birth to Baby Boy." January 25, 2001. Retrieved May 15, 2007.Pappas, Ben. "Celine fights for her marriage." Us . April 22, 2002. pg 30. Following the September 11 attacks , Dion returned to the music scene, and in a televised performance sang " God Bless America#Celine Dion|God Bless America " at the benefit concert America: A Tribute to Heroes . Chuck Taylor of Billboard wrote, "the performance... brings to mind what has made her one of the celebrated vocalists of our time: the ability to render emotion that shakes the soul. Affecting, meaningful, and filled with grace, this is a musical reflection to share with all of us still searching for ways to cope."Taylor, Chuck. Céline Dion: God Bless America#Celine Dion|God Bless America . Billboard magazine. New York: October 6, 2001. Vol.113, Iss. 40; pg. 22, 1 pgs. Dion would perform it again in 2003 during pregame festivities for Super Bowl XXXVII in Qualcomm Stadium|San Diego .. "Dion, Dixie Chicks Singing Anthems At Super Bowl." January 09, 2003. Retrieved 2011-12-10.

In December 2001, Dion published her autobiography, My Story, My Dream which chronicled her rags to riches story."". Amazon.com . Retrieved October 14, 2009.

Return to music: 2002–2003

Dion's aptly titled A New Day Has Come , released in March 2002, ended her three-year break from the music industry. The album was Dion's most personal yet, and established a more mature side of Dion with the songs " A New Day Has Come (song)|A New Day Has Come ", " I'm Alive (Celine Dion song)|I'm Alive ", and " Goodbye's (The Saddest Word) ", a change that resulted from her new-found maternal responsibilities, because, in her own words, "becoming a mother makes you a grown-up." She stated, " A New Day Has Come , for Rene, for me, is the baby. It has everything to do with the baby...That song "A New Day Has Come" represents very well the mood I'm feeling right now. It represents the whole album."Celine Dion. "Interview with Celine Dion." Peter Nansbridge. The National. With Alison Smith. CBC Television|CBC-TV . March 28, 2002. Transcript. A New Day Has Come debuted at number one in over 17 countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada."". Columbia Records''. Retrieved December 5, 2009."". Retrieved December 5, 2009."". BBC . Retrieved December 5, 2009. In the United States, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 527,000 copies; marking her first number one debut on the chart.Basham, David. (April 5, 2002). . Retrieved October 14, 2009. It was eventually certified 3x Platinum in the United States,. Billboard Magazine . Retrieved December 30, 2008. and 6x Platinum in Canada."

While the album was commercially successful, critical reviews suggested that it was "forgettable" and the lyrics were "lifeless". Tyrangiel, Josh . "Heart, No Soul." Time Magazine|Time ; Canadian edition. April 8, 2002. pg. 61 Both Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone magazine, and Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly , stated that Dion's music had not matured during her break, and classed her music as trite and mediocre.. "Album Review: A New Day Has Come ." March 22, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2007. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine|Slant magazine called the album "a lengthy collection of drippy, gooey pop fluffer-nutter." The first single off the album, A New Day Has Come (song)|A New Day Has Come peaked at No.22 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, being an airplay-only release. On the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks , however the song spent 21 consecutive weeks at number 1, breaking the record for the longest span at the top."". yahoo.com . Retrieved October 14, 2009. The previous record holders were Phil Collins ' '' You'll Be in My Heart '' and Dion's own Because You Loved Me , both of which lasted nineteen weeks at number 1. During 2002, she performed for many benefit concerts, the famous VH1 Divas Live, a concert to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, alongside Cher , Anastacia , Dixie Chicks , Mary J. Blige , Whitney Houston , Cyndi Lauper , Shakira and Stevie Nicks .

Drawing inspiration from personal experiences, Dion released One Heart (2003), an album that represented her appreciation for life.Flick, Larry. One Heart . Billboard magazine. New York: March 29, 2003. Vol.115, Iss. 13; pg. 30, 1 pgs The album largely consisted of dance music—a deviation from the soaring, melodramatic ballads, for which she had once been given mixed reception. Although the album achieved moderate success, One Heart was met with mixed criticism, and words such as "predictable" and "banal" appeared even in the most lenient reviews.Durchholz, Daniel. One Heart:Céline's a Diva Who Still Goes On and On . St.Louis Post – Dispatch. St. Louis, Mo.: April 24, 2003. pg. F.3 A cover of the 1989 Cyndi Lauper hit " I Drove All Night#Céline Dion version|I Drove All Night ", released to launch her new advertising campaign with Chrysler ,Stein, Jason. "Celine Dion sings flat for Chrysler." Automotive News . November 24, 2003. Volume 78. incorporated dance-pop and rock and roll. The advertising deal itself, however was met with mixed criticism, with some stating that Dion was trying to please her sponsors.Murray, Sonia. Céline Dion's latest takes easy, well-worn route''. The Atlanta Journal–Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia: March 25, 2003. pg. C.1. However, people like Bonita Stewart, who was the director of Chrysler Group Marketing Communications stated that "Chrysler was taken by how her appeal crossed ethnic lines." She also added, "She brings sophistication, refinement, romance and passion to the brand."Kiley, David. (2003-6-8) "". USA Today . Retrieved October 14, 2009.

After One Heart , Dion released her next English Language studio album, Miracle (Celine Dion album)|Miracle (2004). Miracle was a multimedia project conceived by Dion and photographer Anne Geddes , and had a theme centering on babies and motherhood. The album was filled with lullabies and other songs of maternal love and inspiration, the two most popular being covers of Louis Armstrong 's " What a Wonderful World " and John Lennon 's " Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)#Céline Dion version|Beautiful Boy ". The reviews for Miracle were mixed.. Allmusic. Retrieved October 14, 2009. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic.com gave the album three of out five stars, stating, "The worst you can say about the record is that there are no surprises, but the audience for this record doesn't want surprises; they want comfort, whether it arrives in polished music or artsy photos of newborns, and Miracle provides both, which makes it appealing for those expectant or new mothers in Dion's audience. Chuck Taylor (Billboard writer and editor)|Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine wrote that the single "Beautiful Boy" was "an unexpected gem" and called Dion "a timeless, enormously versatile artist",Taylor, Chuck. Céline Dion: "Beautiful Boy" . Billboard . New York: October 16, 2004. Vol.116, Iss. 42; pg. 33, 1 pgs Chuck Arnold of People Magazine, however, labeled the album as excessively sentimental,Arnold, Chuck. "Review: Celine Dion, Miracle." People Magazine . November 22, 2004. pg, 48. while Nancy Miller of Entertainment Weekly opined that "the whole earth-mama act is just opportunism, reborn". Miracle debuted at number four on the Billboard 200| Billboard 200 chart and number one in Canada , and was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA."." Retrieved December 5, 2009.

The Francophone album 1 fille & 4 types ( 1 Girl & 4 Guys ), released in October 2003, fared better than her first two releases, and showed Dion trying to distance herself from the "diva" image. She recruited Jean-Jacques Goldman , Gildas Arzel, Eric Benzi, and Jacques Veneruso, with whom she had previously worked on two of her best-selling French albums '' S'il suffisait d'aimer and D'eux . Labeled "the album of pleasure" by Dion herself, the album cover showed Dion in a simple and relaxed manner, contrary to the choreographed poses usually found on her album covers. The album achieved widespread commercial success in France, Canada, and Belgium where it reached number one. In France, the album debuted at number one and was later certified 2x platinum after selling over 700,000 copies. Critic, Stephen Erlewine of AllMusic '' wrote that Dion's vocals "are back at top of their game" and that she was "getting back to pop basics and performing at a level unheard in a while."

Though her albums were commercially successful, they did not achieve the sales or the reception of her previous works. Albums like '' The Collector's Series, Volume One (2000), and One Heart '' (2003) did not perform as well critically. Her songs received less airplay as radio became less embracing of balladeers like Dion, Carey, and Houston, and was focused on more up-tempo, Urban contemporary|Urban / Hip hop music|Hip-hop songs.Gardner, Elysa. . USA Today . November 28, 2002. Retrieved August 19, 2005. However, by 2004, Dion had accumulated sales of more than 175 million albums worldwide, and received the Chopard Diamond Award from the World Music Awards for her achievements.Canadian Press. (September 14, 2004) "". CTV News Channel (Canada)|CTV News . Retrieved October 14, 2009. According to the official World Music Awards website, the award is rare; it is "not presented every year" and an artist can only be presented with the award for selling "over 100 million albums during their career."

A New Day... Live in Las Vegas : 2003–2007

In early 2002 Dion had announced a three-year, 600-show contract to appear five nights a week in an entertainment extravaganza, A New Day... , at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace , Las Vegas. This move was seen as "one of the smartest business decisions in years by any major recording artist".Di Nunzio, Miriam (March 20, 2009). Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved October 14, 2009. She conceived the idea for the show after seeing O (Cirque du Soleil)|O by Franco Dragone early in her break from recording, and began on March 25, 2003, in a 4,000-seat arena designed for her show. Many stars attended opening night including Dick Clark , Alan Thicke , Kathy Griffin , and Justin Timberlake , who hosted the television special.Gardner, Elysa. (March 26, 2003) . USA Today . Retrieved October 14, 2009. The show, put together by Dragone, was a combination of dance, music, and visual effects. It included Dion performing her biggest hits against an array of dancers and special effects. Reviewer Mike Weatherford felt that, at first, Dion was not as relaxed as she should be, and at times, it was hard to find the singer among the excessive stage ornamentations and dancers. However, he noted that the show had become more enjoyable, due to Dion's improved stage-presence and simpler costumes.

The show was also well-received by audiences, despite the complaints of expensive tickets; the show routinely sold out until its end in late 2007.Ryzik, Melena (December 17, 2007) "". The New York Times . Retrieved October 14, 2009. Ticket prices averaged $135.33.Hau, Louis (September 19, 2007). ". Forbes . Retrieved October 14, 2009. The show was choreographed by Mia Michaels , who is a world renowned choreographer. According to Pollstar , Dion sold 322,000 tickets and grossed US$43.9& nbsp;million in the first half of 2005, and by July 2005, she had sold out 315 out of 384 shows.
By the end of 2005, Dion grossed more than US$76& nbsp;million, placing sixth on ''Billboard's Money Makers list for 2005''. A New Day... was the 6th biggest selling tour in America in 2006. Because of the show's success, Dion's contract was extended into 2007 for an undisclosed sum. On January 5, 2007 it was announced that the show would end on December 15, 2007, with tickets for the period after October 2007 having gone on sale from March 1. During its entire run, the show accumulated a total gross of $400& nbsp;million, while being seen by nearly 3 million fans.Serpe, Gina. (December 17, 2007). "". E& #33; Online . Retrieved October 15, 2009.— (December 15, 2007) "". Reuters . Retrieved October 15, 2009. The Live in Las Vegas - A New Day... DVD was released on December 10, 2007 in Europe and the following day in North America.

Back to studio and world tour: 2007–2009

Dion's latest French language album, '' D'elles (About Them)'', released on May 21, 2007, debuted at the top of the Canadian album charts, selling 72,200 copies in its first week. It marked her tenth number-one album in the SoundScan era, and her eighth to debut at the top position. In Canada, the album has been certified 2× platinum, and within the first month had already shipped half a million units worldwide. ''D'Elles'' also reached No. 1 in France and Belgium. The first single " Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là) " (meaning "And If There Was Only One Woman Left (I Would Be That One)") debuted at the top of the French singles chart a month earlier. She released her latest English album Taking Chances on November 12 in Europe, and on the November 13 in North America. Her first English studio album since 2003's One Heart , it features pop, R& B, and rock inspired music.Eva Simpson; Caroline Hedley. "3AM: Celine Dion." Daily Mirror . July 30, 2007. pg 17. Dion has collaborated with John Shanks and ex- Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody , as well as Kristian Lundin , Peer Astrom , Linda Perry , Japanese singer Yuna Ito , and R& B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo .Johnson, Kevin C. "Ne-Yo Rides His R& B Vision to the Top." Saint Louis Post-Dispatch . June 21, 2007. p. 5.Taylor, Chuck. "". Billboard . September 11, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2007. Dion stated, "I think this album represents a positive evolution in my career ... I'm feeling strong, maybe a little gutsier than in the past, and just as passionate about music and life as I ever was.""". USA Today . September 13, 2007. She launched her year-long worldwide Taking Chances Tour on February 14, 2008 in South Africa, performing 132 dates in stadiums and arenas across five continents.. celinedion.com. Retrieved November 7, 2007.

The Taking Chances Tour was a great success in the United States, reaching the Number 1 spot on the Billboard Boxscore and it sold out every concert in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, she appeared on Idol Gives Back for a second year in a row. Céline Dion was nominated for six Juno Awards in 2008, leading the group of Canadians to receive this honour,and adding to her 53 previous nominations. Her nominations included Artist of the Year, Pop Album of the Year (for Taking Chances ), Francophone Album of the Year (for ''D'elles ) and Album of the Year (for both Taking Chances and D'elles ).. National Post . Retrieved April 3, 2008. The following year, Dion was nominated for 3 Juno Awards including the Fan Choice Award, Song of the Year (for Taking Chances ), and Music DVD of the Year (for Live in Las Vegas& nbsp;— A New Day... )Collins, Leah (February 3, 2009) "". Canada.com. Retrieved October 15, 2009.

On August 22, 2008, Celine Dion presented a free show, exclusively francophone, Céline Dion à Québec : Près de 250 000 personnes sur les Plaines , LCN. (). Consulted on August 23, 2008. outside on the Plains of Abraham , in Quebec City , Canada, for the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. The celebration gathered approximately 490,000 people (total with TV broadcast). The concert, called Céline sur les Plaines , was released on DVD on November 11, 2008 in Quebec and was released on May 20, 2009 in France.'' , LCN. Consulted on August 23, 2008. The end of October saw the worldwide release of her first ever comprehensive English greatest hits album called My Love: Essential Collection , available in two different album formats.

In May 2009, Celine Dion was named the 20th best-selling artist of the decade in the United States and the second-best-selling female artist of the decade in the United States, selling an estimated 17.57& nbsp;million albums.— (May 29, 2009) "". music.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 15, 2009. In June 2009, Forbes reported that Dion earned $100& nbsp;million during 2008. In December 2009, Pollstar announced that Dion was the best-selling solo touring act of the decade and the second-best-selling touring act of the decade, only to the Dave Matthews Band . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 20, 2009. Dion grossed $522.2& nbsp;million during the decade, a large sum of that coming from her five-year residence at Caesars Palace .

Concert film and video release: late 2009–2010

On February 17, 2010 Dion released into theatres a documentary film about her Taking Chances Tour , titled, Celine: Through the Eyes of the World .- (December 3, 2009) "". www.usatoday.com Retrieved 2009-12-04 The documentary shows behind-the-scenes footage of Dion both onstage and offstage, along with footage of Dion with her family as they traveled with her. The distributor is the Sony Pictures subsidiary, Hot Ticket . The film was later released on Blu-ray and DVD on May 4, 2010, along with the CD/DVD, Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert , which chronicled her world tour of the same name.. Retrieved March 22, 2010.. Retrieved March 22, 2010. At the 52nd Grammy Awards in February 2010, Dion joined Carrie Underwood , Usher (entertainer)|Usher , Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson to perform the song " Earth Song " during the 3-D Michael Jackson tribute.

In January 2010, The Los Angeles Times presented its annual list of the top ten largest earners of the year, revealing that Dion took the top spot for the entire decade, with $US 747.9& nbsp;million in total revenue from 2000–2009. Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2010-1-20. The largest haul came from ticket sales, totaling $522.2& nbsp;million. Additionally, Dion was named "Artist of the Decade" in her native Canadian province of Quebec, announced by the Montreal -based newspaper, Le Journal de Quebec in 2009 December. Le Journal de Quebec . Retrieved 2010-1-29. A public online survey asked responders to vote for who they believe deserved the above-mentioned accolade.

Furthermore, in a May 2010 Harris Poll , Dion was named the most popular musician in the United States, ahead of U2 , Elvis Presley , and The Beatles , while factoring in gender, political affiliations, geographic region of residence, and income. AdWeek Retrieved December 7, 2010 Specifically, Dion was the most popular musician in the female demographic, as well as among all Democrats, those who live in the eastern United States and southern United States, and those who have incomes between US$35k and US$74.9k. NewsBlaze Retrieved July 12, 2010. The Financial . Retrieved December 7, 2010

In September 2010, she released the single " Voler ", a duet with French singer Michel Sardou . The song was later included on Sardou's album. Canoe.ca . Retrieved September 26, 2010. In addition, it was announced in October 2010 that Dion wrote and composed a new song for Canadian singer, Marc Dupré entitled "Entre deux mondes". Branchez-vous! . Retrieved October 10, 2010.

New Las Vegas show: 2011–present

In an interview with People (magazine)|People magazine published in February 2010, Dion announced that she will be returning to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for Celine (residency show)|Celine , a three-year residency for seventy shows a year, beginning March 15, 2011. People (magazine)|People . Retrieved 2010-2-10. She stated that the show will feature, "all the songs from my repertoire that people want to hear" and will contain a selection of music from classic Hollywood films.
In preparation for her return to Las Vegas, Dion, on February 21 made an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show during the show's final season, for a record twenty-seventh time and spoke about her upcoming Caesars Palace shows, as well as her family. Las Vegas Sun Retrieved February 27, 2011 Additionally, for a record sixth time, Dion performed at the 83rd Academy Awards , where she sang the song "Smile," as part of the ceremony's "In Memoriam" segment. E& #33; Online. Retrieved February 15, 2011 On September 4, Dion appeared on the 2011 MDA Labor Telethon Event and showed a prerecorded performance of " Open Arms (Journey song)|Open Arms " from her new Las Vegas show. On October 1, 2011, OWN Network premiered a documentary on Dion's life, from months before her pregnancy with twins, to the makings of her new Las Vegas Show, called, "Celine: 3 Boys and a New Show". The documentary became the second highest rated show on TV OWN Canada. In October, FlightNetwork.com conducted a poll, asking 780 participants, which celebrity they would like to sit next to the most on an airplane. Dion was the top favorite, with 23.7% of the vote. Also, in September, Dion released her 14th perfume from her Celine Dion Parfums Collection, called "Signature".

On September 15, Dion made an appearance at the Concerto: One Night in Central Park|free concert of world famous tenor, Andrea Bocelli , in Central Park in New York. In 2012 she performed at 16th Jazz and Blues Festival in Jamaica . It has been officially announced that Dion will release a new English album in 2012.

Personal life

Dion first met her husband and manager, Rene Angelil in 1980, when she was 12 and he was 38, after she and her mother sent him a demo tape of a song they had written. They began a relationship in 1987, and became engaged in 1991. They married on December 17, 1994, at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec. On January 5, 2000, Dion and Angelil renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas.

In May 2000, Dion had two small operations at a fertility clinic in New York to improve her chances of conceiving, after deciding to use in-vitro fertilisation after years of failed attempts to conceive. Their first son, René-Charles Angelil, was born on January 25, 2001. In May 2010, Angelil announced that Dion was 14 weeks pregnant with twins after a sixth treatment of in-vitro fertilisation. On Saturday, October 23, 2010, at 11:11 and 11:12& nbsp;am respectively, at St. Mary Medical Center (Long Beach)|St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach , Florida, Dion, by Caesarean section , gave birth to two healthy fraternal twins weighing 5 pounds 10 ounces and 5 pounds 4 ounces. The twins were named Eddy, after Dion's favorite Algeria n songwriter Eddy Marnay who also produced Dion's first five albums, and Nelson, after former South African President Nelson Mandela .. Retrieved October 28, 2010. Dion appeared with her newborn sons on the cover of the December 9, 2010 issue of the Canadian edition of Hello! magazine.

Artistry and image

Dion grew up listening to the music of Aretha Franklin , Charles Aznavour , Michael Jackson , Carole King , Anne Murray , Barbra Streisand , and the Bee Gees , all of whom she would eventually collaborate with. Dion has also stated she grew up listening to artists such as Janis Joplin , the Doobie Brothers , and Creedence Clearwater Revival , but never got the chance to sing their genre of music. She also was inspired by fellow vocalist Whitney Houston , whom Dion has often been compared to. Her music has been influenced by numerous genres, including pop, rock, gospel music|gospel , R& B and soul music|soul , and her lyrics focus on themes of poverty, world hunger, and spirituality, with an emphasis on love and romance."." Plugged in. . Retrieved September 13, 2007. After the birth of her child, her work also began to emphasize maternal bond and brotherly love.

Dion has faced considerable criticism from critics, who state that her music often retreats behind pop and soul conventions, and is marked by excessive sentimentality. According to Keith Harris of Rolling Stone magazine, " sentimentality is bombastic and defiant rather than demure and retiring.... stands at the end of the chain of drastic devolution that goes Aretha-Whitney-Mariah. Far from being an aberration, Dion actually stands as a symbol of a certain kind of pop sensibility—bigger is better, too much is never enough, and the riper the emotion the more true." The New Rolling Stone Album Guide 2004. Dion's francophone releases, by contrast, tend to be deeper and more varied than her English releases, and consequently have achieved more credibility.

Critics have stated that Dion's involvement in the production aspect of her music is fundamentally lacking, which results in her work being overproduced and impersonal. However, coming from a family in which all of her siblings were musicians, she learned to play instruments like piano and guitar, and practiced with a Fender Stratocaster during the recording sessions of her album, Falling into You .
Also, she helped to compose many of her earlier French songs, and had always tried to involve herself with the production and recording of her albums. On her first English album, which she recorded before she had a firm command of the English language, she expressed disapproval of the record, which could have been avoided if she had assumed more creative input. By the time she released her second English album Celine Dion (album)|Celine Dion , she had assumed more control of the production and recording process, hoping to dispel earlier criticisms. She stated, "On the second album I said, 'Well, I have the choice to be afraid one more time and not be 100% happy, or not be afraid and be part of this album.' This is my album." She would continue to involve herself in the production of subsequent releases, helping to write a few of her songs on '' Let's Talk About Love (1997) and These Are Special Times '' (1998). Evous.fr Retrieved December 20, 2010

Dion is often the subject of media ridiculeSee, e.g., Joel Selvin , , San Francisco Chronicle , February 23, 2009, E2. In this rather hostile review, Selvin wrote: "You want cheese? She is a Velveeta volcano." and parody, and is frequently impersonated on shows like MADtv , Saturday Night Live , South Park , Royal Canadian Air Farce and This Hour Has 22 Minutes for her strong accent and on-stage movements. However, Dion has stated that she is unaffected by the comments, and is flattered that people take the time to impersonate her. She even invited Ana Gasteyer , who parodied her on SNL , to appear on stage during one of her performances. While she is rarely politically outspoken, in 2005 following the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Dion appeared on Larry King Live and tearfully criticized the George W. Bush|U.S. government 's slow response in aiding the victims of the hurricane: "There's people still there waiting to be rescued. To me that is not acceptable...How can it be so easy to send planes in another country to kill everybody in a second and destroy lives. We need to serve our country." After her interview, she stated, "When I do interviews with Larry King or the big TV shows like that, they put you on the spot, which is very difficult. I do have an opinion, but I'm a singer. I'm not a politician."

Voice

Dion is often regarded as one of pop music's most influential voices.Andersson, Eric. "Who Inspired the Idols? " Us . March 12, 2007. p. 104 She has been described as a reigning " Honorific nicknames in popular music|Queen of Pop " for her influence over the record industry during the 1990s, alongside other female entertainers, including Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey ."If Ella Fitzgerald is the queen of jazz, Billie Holiday first lady of the blues, and Aretha Franklin the queen of soul, then who is the queen of pop? In the 1990s, it would seem to be a three-way tie between Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion. Certainly all three have their devotees and detractors, but their presence has been inescapable." in In a countdown of the "22 Greatest Voices in Music" by Blender (magazine)|Blender Magazine and MTV, she placed ninth (sixth for a female), and she was also placed fourth in Cove magazine's list of "The 100 Outstanding Pop Vocalists.". Am I Annoying . Retrieved October 2, 2008. Dion is often compared to Mariah Carey for her vocal style and to her idol, Barbra Streisand , for her voice.

According to various sources, Dion possesses a five-octave vocal range . Seattle Times . Retrieved December 31, 2009. USA Today Retrieved December 31, 2009 New York Times . Retrieved December 26, 2009. The Paim Beach Post News Retrieved February 20, 2011 Dion states she is a mezzo-soprano . However, attempts to adopt classical voice types to other forms of singing has been met with controversy.Peckham, Anne (2005). Vocal workouts for the contemporary singer. Boston: Berklee Press. pp. 117. ISBN 0-87639-047-5. Without making a classification, maestro Kent Nagano remarked, "All you just sang was soprano ," after Dion auditioned with two solos of Carmen , wanting to know if she could sing opera. Her timbre has been described as "thin, slightly nasal, nearly vibrato less," with a "raspy" lower register and "bell glass-like high notes."

Dion is often praised for her technical virtuosity. Philippine Daily Inquirer Retrieved October 23, 2010 Stephen Holden of The New York Times , writes, "Ms. Dion is a belter with a high, thin, slightly nasal, nearly vibratoless soprano and a good-sized arsenal of technical skills. She can deliver tricky melismas, produce expressive vocal catches and sustain long notes without the tiniest wavering of pitch. And as her duets have shown, she is a reliable harmony voice." In an interview with Libération , Jean-Jacques Goldman states that she has "no problem of accuracy or tempo ." According to Kent Nagano , maestro of the Munich Symphony Orchestra , Dion is "a musician who has a good ear, a refinement, and a degree of perfection that is envious." Charles Alexander of TIME states, " voice glides effortlessly from deep whispers to dead-on high notes, a sweet siren that combines force with grace."

In her French repertoire, Dion adorns her vocals with more nuances and modulations, with the emotional intensity being "more tender and intimate."Denise Bombardier, L'énigmatique Céline Dion, Albin Michel XO éditions, 2009, page 179. Additionally, Luc Plamondon, a French singer-songwriter who has written several works for Dion states that there are three chanteuse that Dion uses: the Québécois, the French, and the American.

Other activities

Dion became an entrepreneur with the establishment of her franchising|franchise restaurant, Nickels Grill & Bar|Nickels in 1990. She has since divested her interests in the chain and is no longer affiliated with Nickels , as of 1997. In 2003, Dion signed a deal with Coty, Inc. to release Celine Dion Parfums .Davis, Mari (April 16, 2003) "". Fashion Windows. Retrieved August 12, 2009 Her latest fragrance, Signature , was released in September 2011with an advertising campaign by New York agency Kraftworks NYC. Since its inception, Celine Dion Parfums has grossed over $850& nbsp;million in retail sales. AOL Style List . Retrieved April 2, 2010. ''Women's Wear Daily''. Retrieved April 2, 2010. In October 2004, Air Canada hired Dion as part of their promotional campaign to unveil new service products and an updated livery . " You and I (Celine Dion song)|You and I ", the theme song sung by Dion, was written by advertising executives working for Air Canada.Alberts, Sheldon. "A Canadian liftoff; Dion 'flattered' her Air Canada ad chosen as Clinton's campaign song." National Post . June 20, 2007. pg A3.

Dion has actively supported many charity organizations, worldwide. She has promoted the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) since 1982, and became the foundation's National Celebrity Patron in 1993.McLellan, Stephanie Simpson. "Celebrating the Mother-Child Bond." ''Today's Parent'', p. 32. May 1, 2004. She has an emotional attachment to the foundation; her niece Karine succumbed to the disease at the age of sixteen. In 2003, Dion joined a number of other celebrities, athletes, and politicians, including Josh Groban and Yolanda Adams to support "World Children's Day", a global fundraising effort sponsored by McDonald's . The effort raised money from more than 100 nations and benefited orphanages and children's health organizations. In addition, Dion has been a major supporter of the Tony Martell|T.J. Martell Foundation , the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, and many health and educational campaigns. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dion donated $1& nbsp;million to the victims of the storm, and held a fund-raising event for the victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami , which subsequently raised more than $1& nbsp;million. After the 2008 Sichuan earthquake , Dion donated $100,000 to China Children & Teenagers' Fund and sent a letter showing her consolation and support.Celine Dion . Retrieved October 15, 2009.

In 1999, Dion received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame and also a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2004.— (January 8, 2004) "". CBConline . Retrieved October 15, 2009. She dedicated her star to her father, who died the month prior. In 2007, Celine Dion was ranked by Forbes as the 5th richest woman in entertainment with an estimated net worth of US$250& nbsp;million, though the ranking omitted non-working or retired celebrities. She also received France's highest award, the Légion d'honneur , in May 2008. In August 2008, she received an honorary doctorate in music from the Université Laval in Quebec City.. Canada.com. Retrieved on September 7, 2008 In October 2010, Dion was named a FAO Goodwill Ambassador|Goodwill Ambassador , a program created by the UN in 1999. She shared this accolade with Oscar-winner, Susan Sarandon . USA Today . Retrieved October 15, 2010.

Discography

French albums

1981: La voix du bon Dieu

1982: '' Tellement j'ai d'amour...

1983: Les chemins de ma maison

1984: Mélanie (album)|Mélanie

1985: '' C'est pour toi

1987: Incognito (Celine Dion album)|Incognito

1991: Dion chante Plamondon

1995: '' D'eux

1998: '' S'il suffisait d'aimer

2003: 1 fille & 4 types

2007: '' D'elles

English albums

1990: Unison (Celine Dion album)|Unison

1992: Celine Dion (album)|Celine Dion

1993: The Colour of My Love

1996: Falling into You

1997: '' Let's Talk About Love

2002: A New Day Has Come

2003: One Heart

2004: Miracle (Celine Dion album)|Miracle

2007: Taking Chances

Holiday albums

1981: Céline Dion chante Noël

1983: Chants et contes de Noël

1998: These Are Special Times

Tours

Year	Title	Releases
1983–1984	Les chemins de ma maison tournée	None
1985	C'est pour toi tournée	Vinyl Céline Dion en concert
1988	Incognito tournée	None
1990–1991	Unison Tour	Unison
1992–1993	Celine Dion in Concert	None
1994–1995	The Colour of My Love Tour	VHS/ DVD The Colour of My Love Concert ; CD '' À l'Olympia
1995	D'eux Tour	Live à Paris ; CD Live à Paris
1996–1997	Falling into You Tour	VHS Live in Memphis
1998–1999	Let's Talk About Love World Tour	Au cœur du stade ; CD Au cœur du stade
2003–2007	A New Day...	DVD/ BD Live in Las Vegas - A New Day... ; CD A New Day... Live in Las Vegas
2008–2009	Taking Chances Tour	DVD Céline sur les Plaines ; DVD/ BD Celine: Through the Eyes of the World ; DVD/ CD Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert
2011–2014	Celine

Filmography

Touched by an Angel

The Nanny

All My Children

La fureur de Céline

Des fleurs sur la neige

Céline sur les Plaines

Celine: Through the Eyes of the World

Copyright Citations

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1. Dion 2. Aldo Nova 3. Live in Central Park 4. Offenbach 5. Caesars Palace 6. Michael Bubl%e9 7. Michael Bublé 8. Anthony Callea 9. Aselin Debison 10. Ben Moody 11. Bocelli 12. Ce Ce Peniston 13. CeCe Peniston 14. Charles Aznavour 15. Elena Paparizou 16. Gellieman 17. I Love You 18. Jay Graydon 19. Jean-Pierre Ferland 20. Marie Serneholt 21. Martin Briley 22. McLachlan, Sarah 23. Miley Cyrus 24. One Heart 25. Pavarotti

Undetermined Music Artists