'He wanted to pass away in my arms': Celine Dion reveals husband René Angélil died after falling out of bed and was found on the floor by 'distraught' nurse

  • Rene Angelil died on January 13 following long battle with throat cancer
  • Singer, 48, was performing on night of his death and didn't want to disturb
  • Celine was 'haunted' by the thought that husband may have been injured
  • Says she is finally at 'peace' with the death and recently won Icon award 

Celine Dion has revealed her late husband René Angélil died after falling out of bed.

The singer, 48 - whose music producer partner passed away at the age of 73 on January 13 following a long battle with throat cancer - explained his body was found by a 'distraught' nurse.

René had expressed that he wanted to die in Celine's arms, but she was performing on the night he died and didn't want to wake him when she returned.

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Shock: Celine Dion revealed that she wasn't there when Rene Angelil died and his body was found by a 'distraught' nurse after he fell out of bed

Shock: Celine Dion revealed that she wasn't there when Rene Angelil died and his body was found by a 'distraught' nurse after he fell out of bed

Speaking to Paris Match magazine, Celine, 48, said: 'Rene wanted to die in my arms but, alas, I was singing that night. He must have wanted to get up and he fell on the floor.

'Normally, after my show when he had taken his last medications, I gave him a kiss, tucking him in and sent him off to sleep.

'That evening I didn't want to wake him. It was the nurse who found him the next day. Distraught, she came to find me. I went into the room.'

Tragic: The music producer, who was 73, had expressed that he wanted to die in Celine's arms but she was performing on the night he died and didn't want to wake him when she returned

Tragic: The music producer, who was 73, had expressed that he wanted to die in Celine's arms but she was performing on the night he died and didn't want to wake him when she returned

Celine said that she was 'haunted' by the thought that he may have injured himself when he fell.

However, after a doctor confirmed that he had obtained no broken bones, bleeding or fractures, Celine said that she was finally at peace with his death and even told medics that she was happy he wouldn't suffer any more. 

The My Heart Will Go On singer said that she wanted to prove to her children that she was strong and do her husband proud by following his mantra of 'the show must go on'.

Proud: Her eldest son René-Charles, 15, presented her with the Icon award

Proud: Her eldest son René-Charles, 15, presented her with the Icon award

And Celine was rewarded for her efforts at Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards, as her son made a surprise appearance on stage to present her with the Icon award.   

The 48-year-old made her first televised singing performance since the death of her husband, Rene Angelil, and her brother in January.

In a poignant move, she performed a cover of his favourite song, Queen's The Show Must Go On. 

'I don't want to cry in front of you': Celine said she wanted to be strong for her family

'I don't want to cry in front of you': Celine said she wanted to be strong for her family

And moments later her eldest son René-Charles, 15, emerged on stage with her award. (She also has twins Nelson and Eddy, 5.).

She was overcome with emotion as the crowd gave her a standing ovation and she apologized to the audience for crying. Many audience members were also reduced to tears during the moment.

'I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for crying. I want to be so strong for my family and kids,' she told the crowd.

'I don't want to cry in front of you,' she then said to her son.

Guardian: She told the crowd that her late husband Rene Angelil will 'continue to watch over me from up above'
Guardian: She told the crowd that her late husband Rene Angelil will 'continue to watch over me from up above'

Guardian: She told the crowd that her late husband Rene Angelil will 'continue to watch over me from up above'

'Thank you very much.This is such a tremendous honor. Music has been my passion since before I can almost remember.' 

She added that her late husband Rene Angelil will 'continue to watch over me from up above.'

After the ceremony, Celine reflected on the emotional moment. 

'To try to perform that song without collapsing was big enough,' she told Entertainment Tonight.

See Billboard Music Awards 2016 updates as Celine Dion is reduced to tears after her son surprises her on stage

Sweet moment: Rene hugged his mother after presenting her with the award 

Sweet moment: Rene hugged his mother after presenting her with the award 

'And then I turned around and I saw my son. As a mother, I really, through this whole process of our new life, wanted to be strong.'

'I thought I was going to make it through the whole night without tears and show strength, and love won,' she said. 'I just collapsed. I'm very thankful for the award and proud of my family so much.'

'You have to be strong, but I think it's important as well to not hold everything,' she told ET.

'I tried to hold it in front of my 5-year-old twins, but my 15-and-a-half year old beautiful son is old enough to understand.

'Even though I did not want to cry, he understands it's okay because it is therapeutic and you can't take so much pressure,' she continued. 

Lost for words: Celine struggled to regain her composure and apologized to the crowd for crying 

Lost for words: Celine struggled to regain her composure and apologized to the crowd for crying 

'You can take so much strength and weight on your shoulders, but sometimes you can't control everything.'

Meanwhile, TMZ reported that Céline is now the official administrator of René's vast estate.

Documents show that the 48-year-old has control over their two estates - which are up for sale - in Florida and Quebec, as well as others.

René was also very generous to his children - of which he has three, from his marriage to Céline as well as two previous ones - leaving homes to two of his children from his first marriage.

The will also shares that once the $45M home in Florida and $25M castle in Quebec are sold, $9M will go to a trust, most likely for his three children with Céline.

Poignant: She performed a cover of Queen's The Show Must Go On in typically jaw-dropping style

Poignant: She performed a cover of Queen's The Show Must Go On in typically jaw-dropping style

Meanwhile, the My Heart Will Go On singer was also left all the furniture, cars, clothing, jewelry, and personal effects in the will.

Most of René's money went into a trust, which TMZ reported would typically provided for the surviving spouse and children - René and Céline have three boys: 15-year-old René-Charles and five-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson.

Curiously, the publication also revealed that the Canadian singer - known in part for her kind disposition - had to sign a document declaring that she was not a felon. 

Earlier this month the My Heart Will Go On singer described her final moments with husband before he passed away in January. 

The singer revealed that she told René, her husband of 21 years, not to worry anymore and to go in peace.

Emotional: She earned a standing ovation for the heart-wrenching performance 

Emotional: She earned a standing ovation for the heart-wrenching performance 

'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,' Celine recalled telling the 73-year-old, who was her manager in addition to the father of their three sons.

'The kids are fine. I'm fine. I promise you we're gonna be okay. Please leave in peace. I don't want you to worry.' she remembered while talking to ABC News.

The Canadian songstress also spoke to PEOPLE about how she wants to prove to her boys that she's strong.

She said: 'You know what, I'm 48 years old and I lost the love of my life. I miss him a lot from when he was great but not when he was suffering. I cannot be selfish. You have to let people go. I feel at peace.'  

Rene died on January 14 after a lengthy battle with throat cancer. Her brother Daniel died just days later. 

Backstage moment: The pair posed up after the ceremony and her son was beaming with pride

Backstage moment: The pair posed up after the ceremony and her son was beaming with pride

 

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