Céline Dion's Grown-Up Son René-Charles Makes Us Feel Old

Oct 13, 2020

Celine Dion is arguably the one of the most talented singers of our generation. The Canadian performer sang herself into our hearts when we first got to see her in the 1980s, when she won the Eurovision song contest.

Not only is she an accomplished songstress, but Dion has also gone on to have a beautiful family as well. Together with her late husband René Angélil, she has had three sons: René-Charles, 19, and twins Nelson and Eddie, 10. The world first got to see the little twins outside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas back in 2011 as newborns. Now, they’re all grown up and look just like their famous parents!

Dion and her late husband René Angélil have quite a love story. The pair met when Dion was just 12 years old when he first became her music manager. According to Huffington Post Canada, Dion eventually fell in love with Angélil at around 17-18 years old. Their 26 year age gap, however, would make their love a difficult one to pursue. She revealed to the outlet that her mother was not especially happy with the couple. 

"If I reversed roles—when I had my first son, RC, if I think of him and he comes [to me] with this lady who has kids and she's 45 and she thinks she knows best, [I'd be] like, 'Take your hand off of my son.'" She admitted.

The couple eventually wed on December 17th, 1994.

In 2001, they had their first child, René-Charles. Raising their son made it apparent to the doting parents that they absolutely wanted to have another child. Unfortunately, they were finding it difficult to conceive naturally, so the couple sought help and started receiving IVF treatment in 2007. 

The couple still struggled, however, with Dion opening up to Oprah in 2010 about her miscarrying while undergoing the treatment. Despite the adversity, they were still determined to have another child. Then finally in 2010, Angélil and Dion announced she was 14 weeks pregnant with twins. 

Later that same year on October 10, Dion gave birth to Eddie and Nelson at St Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Their names have a particularly important meaning for Dion, with Eddie being named after her favorite songwriter, Eddy Marnay, and Nelson being named after Nelson Mandela, according to People. 

Tragically, the boy lost their father at a young age, when he succumbed to a years-long on-and-off battle with cancer. 

“When you see someone who is fighting so hard, it has a big impact on you,” Dio told People in 2015. “You have two choices. You look at your husband who’s very sick and you can’t help, and it kills you. Or you look at your husband that’s sick and you say, ‘I got you. I got it. I’m here. It’s going to be just fine.’

It was just two days before his 74th birthday when René Angélil passed away in 2016. 

”Knowing that now he’s in peace and is resting and is always within me. I see him every day through the eyes of my children. He gave me so much strength,” Dion told Hello at the time.

”To be honest, I think I’m at the best of my life right now and I want to enjoy and embrace every moment of it and really enjoy it,” she added.

"It’s like I’m having a second wind, like I’m having the wind beneath my wings. I’m having a good time.”

Now aged 10, the twins seem to have inherited their parent's love for showbiz!

That much is evident in a photo uploaded by their mom on their 7th birthday, which was apparently Michael Jackson themed. 

“Can’t believe you are already 7 years old… Time flies! Happy birthday, my loves! I’m so proud of all my boys! Mom,” Dion captioned the photo.

Dion is definitely a doting mom, as her Instagram feed is full of photos of her wonderful boys. In the photo above, which was uploaded early this year, you can see just how much her oldest son René-Charles has grown. 

We’re sure their dad would be so proud of them. Who do you think Dion’s sons resembles more? Let us know in the comments, and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!