Celine Dion wiped off tears while speaking about her late husband for the first time

Canadian singer Celine Dion couldn't hold back her tears as she spoke about her late husband, René Angélil, for the first time publicly.

In 2016, the "My Heart Will Go On" singer, 50, paid tribute at a night memorial at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Many people attended to celebrate the life of her late husband, as reported by Global News.

In an almost 20-minute speech, Dion said: “I was never part of any of the meetings that he had where he had to say yes or no. He protected me from Day 1 to for the rest of my life, I am pretty sure of that.”

Angélil passed away on January 14, 2016, after losing his battle to throat cancer. He was 73 years old.

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On January 22, 2016, during his funeral at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, their son, Rene-Charles, gave the eulogy before Angélil was buried at the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery.

On the previous day, the family had spent almost seven hours greeting fans and mourners at a public visitation at the same Canadian church.

Though Dion didn't sing during the Las Vegas memorial, her famous discography was on display throughout the night.

At the event, an instrumental version of her song “Because You Loved Me” was played as one of the interludes between speeches.

Dion was overcome with emotions when David Foster sang “The Color of My Love.”

As memories were shared from guests, the singer was joined on stage by her son, René-Charles, along with Angélil’s other children from previous marriages and his brother.

They all described Angélil as a man who was kind, generous and utterly devoted to his wife and her talent.

Dion first met her husband and manager in 1980, when she was 12, and he was 38. The two started a relationship in 1987 and became engaged in 1991.

On December 17, 1994, Dion and Angélil tied the knot at Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec. The couple renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas on January 5, 2000. They shared three children.