Celine Dion Did 'Double Job' Raising 3 Sons Alone after She Struggled for Years to Become 'Miracle Twins' Mom

Singer Celine Dion married her 26-years-older husband René Angélil when she was only 26. They had a wonderful marriage, despite battling numerous fertility issues. Unfortunately, Angélil died from cancer leaving the songstress to raise their three boys alone.

Celine Dion was only 18 when she started dating then 44-year-old René Angélil. The two first met after one of Dion's siblings sent a tape of the then 12-year-old Dion to Angélil. After the music manager listened to Dion singing, he invited her to audition in Quebec.

He loved her voice so much that he started to cry once she started singing. Good Housekeeping reports that in 1981, Angéli mortgaged his house to finance Dion's album.

They went on their first date in 1987, a year after they started their secret romance. However, they did not announce their relationship until five years later. They got engaged in 1991, but the 26-year gap became a problem for the singer's mother, Thérèse. Dion admitted:

"It was very difficult for her."

Thérèse tried to get Dion to "snap out of it," reminding her that Angélil had two failed marriages and three children, which, according to her, could only mean he was irresponsible. However, Dion was in love with Angélil, and so were her other family members.

Eventually, they married in 1994 at Montreal's Notre Dame Basilica. Dion could not have been happier. She was married to the love of her life, and her music career kept rising. Unfortunately, not all aspects of her life were so smooth sailing.

For years, Dion had fertility troubles, and to add salt to injury, the couple faced an even more difficult period after Angélil was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. Dion had her career going for her, and her star seemed to shine brighter every day, but she put all that aside to focus on caring for her husband.

Despite how difficult that period turned out to be, Dion and Angélil had reason to celebrate when in 2000, he was declared cancer-free.

Even more wonderful news awaited them when in 2001, after complex fertility treatments, they welcomed their first baby together, René-Charles, on January 25.

Angélil was ecstatic! He confessed that having a little one, especially after beating cancer, was the greatest thing in the world. He spent all his time with his baby, and waking up to his smile was beautiful.

During an interview with Oprah, Dion jokingly told on her husband, saying that he would accidentally hit their sleeping baby's crib when walking by so he could wake him up and spend more time with him.

Celine and René Fought More Fertility Issues

If conceiving their first child was hard, having their second only became more arduous. Speaking on Oprah, Dion opened up about what a rocky journey getting pregnant a second time had been, noting that she had miscarried four times. She, however, remained optimistic that she would carry the fifth pregnancy to term, saying:

"If five is my lucky number, this fifth try is gonna come in."

Finally, in 2010, after multiple rounds of IVF and using acupuncture to increase her chances of conceiving, their dream to give their son a sibling came to pass after the couple welcomed their fraternal twin boys, Nelson and Eddy.

Angélil stayed by his wife's side as the boys came into the world, noting that he was the one who cut their cords. He described how emotional a moment it had been, seeing his miracle twins and hearing them cry for the first time.

It was indeed a miracle. While Dion hoped and would have been okay with one child, having two was a double blessing. Weeks later, Angélil confessed his admiration of his wife, revealing that nothing could overshadow the joy that motherhood brought her.

He noted that she got by with little or no sleep, yet she said her boys made her life extraordinary. Speaking to Hello Magazine, Angélil said:

"She barely sleeps but remains radiant. Celine is a force of nature.”

Two months after they welcomed their twins, "The Power of Love" songstress disclosed that her babies already showed strong personality traits. She shared many of her features with Eddy, while Nelson looked more like Angélil.

She also admitted that between juggling raising her three boys — the two months old twins and her 9-year-old son — she found herself still in pajamas at lunchtime and wondered how she would balance raising her babies and working. She said of motherhood:

"It gives you true meaning in your life and it's the most important job. Who cares if people like me as a singer or not, they can find other singers and there will be other singers. But no other mother can be a better mother for my children than me."

Losing René and Raising Their Babies Alone

Angélil and Dion had a wonderful three years raising their babies together. Dion also returned to work, starting with her residency in Las Vegas in January 2011. Sadly in 2013, Angélil's cancer returned.

They faced the battle together, with Angélil undergoing surgery to remove a tumor that December. Once again, Dion took a break from work to care for him. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2016 at their Las Vegas home. His twins were only five at the time.

The "My Heart Will Go On" singer was devastated. Angelil was the man she had known since she was a teen and had spent most of her life with; now, he was no more.

She was heartbroken but had to stay strong and raise their three boys. Speaking on Today, Dion disclosed that her husband was very much alive in her and their children, adding:

"We still live with him. He's part of our lives every day, so I have to say I feel very, very strong."

Nevertheless, raising three babies alone has not been a walk in the park. The singer admits that, while she'll never take her husband's place in her children's hearts, she does a "double job" as a parent. She is not just their mom but their "parents."

She acknowledges her role in their life to build their individualities and guide them through their dreams. Even though René-Charles is already 21, he understands that his mother is always around to love and protect him.