Up and up. In her first interview since René Angélil‘s death in January, superstar singer Celine Dion opened up about losing her husband to cancer, and revealed how she broke the news to their three boys, as well her final words to the love of her life.
Dion, 48, told ABC News‘ Deborah Roberts that she rested beside Angélil in bed in his final moments and spoke words of love to her husband before he passed away.
“‘You were worrying for my career. You were worrying for the children. You were worrying for everything. It’s enough. Do you trust me? Please do. Trust me,'” Dion recalled in the interview airing Wednesday, May 18. “‘The kids are fine. I’m fine. I promise you we’re gonna be OK. Please leave in peace. I don’t want you to worry.'”
Angélil, who died in the family’s Las Vegas home at age 73 on January 14, was Dion’s longtime manager and husband of 21 years. They share three children, son René-Charles, 15, and twin boys Nelson and Eddy, 5. The “My Heart Will Go On” singer told ABC News that she used Pixar’s classic 2009 animated movie Up to illustrate to her kids that their father had succumbed to cancer.
“Before I told them that their dad was not there, I talked about when we, everybody, gets sick. Then I said, ‘Do you remember the movie Up?’” the French-Canadian star shared. “It’s one of our favorites. ‘Oh,’ they said, ‘Yes, Ellie went up. You know, she, with the balloons.’ And I said, ‘Well, yeah … You know, today Papa went up.'”
Dion revealed that she then brought her boys outside, where the group released balloons into the sky and called “pixie dust” into the heavens. “We’re gonna say, ‘Papa, we love you. Have a good up.’ And we’re gonna spread this, and it’s gonna go to him.”
The interview airs on Good Morning America at 7 a.m. on ABC on Wednesday, May 18.
