QUEBEC, CANADA: Celine Dion has reportedly decided to move back to her native Canada after selling her $30 million mansion in Las Vegas. The news of her departure from the US comes amid her worsening health as she continues to battle Stiff-Person Syndrome. Earlier this month, it was reported that the “Queen of Power Ballads” has sold off her Sin City estate near Caesars Palace, where she has organized more than 1,100 shows over the last 20 years, to private equity investor Chuck Esserman.
“Celine has 11 brothers and sisters living in Canada,” a friend reportedly told Radar Online. “It’s an amazing, loving support system for her during a time of personal crisis,” they added. “Her disease is incurable, and as hard as she’s worked at it with doctors and therapists, she simply isn’t getting better,” the source added. Dion first announced her diagnosis back in December 2022 and said she has been suffering from the condition since 2019. The health struggles also compelled the singer to cancel her highly-anticipated concert tour.
‘She’d rather be back home in Quebec’
Speaking to Radar Online, the insider claimed that Dion was excited to go on a world tour and, once that was over, settle in for another stretch in Las Vegas. However, the singer’s worsening health condition made her doubt if she will ever get the chance to perform again. “Celine had been so excited to go on a big world tour this year and the next, and then settle in for another Las Vegas residency. But more and more, it’s doubtful she’ll ever perform on stage again,” the source said.
“Given that reality, she’d rather be back home in Quebec, wrapped in the love of her family,” the insider added. Other reports also suggested that Dion had been leaning on close friend and fellow singer Shania Twain amid her health battle. “Celine and Shania have been close for years. They have quietly supported each other and been confidantes for decades,” the insider said. “Shania wants Celine to know she is not alone because it’s a lonely struggle to go through, especially when you are trying to keep the fight private,” they added.
Celine Dion has 'lifetime of memories' in Canada
Dion was born in Charlemagne, Quebec, 24 kilometres northeast of Montreal, Canada, to Therese and Adhemar Dion. She is the youngest of the 14 Dion children and grew up in a poor but happy Canadian home with her parents and 13 older siblings. The ‘My Heart Will Go On’ hitmaker also had memories of her marriage to now-late husband Rene Angelil in Canada.
Angelil and Dion walked the down aisle in a lavish ceremony at the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal on Dec. 17, 1994. Their wedding was broadcast live on television in Canada. The singer wore a stunning Mirella and Steve Gentile gown and a Swarovski crystal headdress for the occasion. The couple started a family and welcomed three children together — son Rene, in 2001 and twins, Eddy and Nelson, in 2010.
Unfortunately, Angelil was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999, which prompted Dion to take a two-year break to focus on her husband as he underwent radiation treatment and two surgeries. Dion and Angelil also renewed their vows in Las Vegas the following year. On 14 January 2016, Angelil died at age 73 after losing his battle with cancer. His funeral also took place in Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, the same place where he and Dion said “I do” 21 years before his death.
