Celine Dion’s Husband, Dies at 73

Rene Angelil, musician and husband of Celine Dion, died Thursday morning (Jan. 14) after a years-long battle with throat cancer, Dion’s rep said in a statement. He was 73.

“Rene Angelil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer,” the statement reads. “The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment.”

Angelil had a career as a Canadian pop singer in the 1960s before turning to managing. The Montreal native discovered Dion when she was just 12 years old and went on to manage her thriving career.

Angelil and Dion married in December 1994. The couple have three children together: René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy. Angelil also has three adult children from a previous relationship, Anne-Marie, Patrick and Jean-Pierre.