Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Celine Dion
How Celine Dion built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Céline Dion is a highly successful Canadian singer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, often called the "Queen of Power Ballads." Renowned for her exceptional vocal talent and commercially successful recordings, she has profoundly influenced popular music. As the best-selling Canadian recording artist and French-language artist, Dion has sold over 200 million records globally, solidifying her status as one of the best-selling musical artists of all time.
1965: Beatles record in UK
In 1965, The Beatles achieved a milestone in the UK by simultaneously holding the number-one album and song for five consecutive weeks. Celine Dion later matched this record, as well as being the first woman to score two singles with sales exceeding over one million each.
1981: Funded first record
In 1981, René Angélil mortgaged his home to fund Céline Dion's first record, 'La voix du bon Dieu', which became a local hit.
1981: Career inception
Since Celine Dion's career's inception in 1981, she has been cited as an influence by various music artists all over the world, as well as one of the greatest vocalists of all-time.
1982: Yamaha World Popular Song Festival
In 1982, Céline Dion competed in the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo and won the musician's award for "Top Performer" and the gold medal for "Best Song" with "Tellement j'ai d'amour pour toi".
1982: Promotion of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Since 1982, Celine Dion has supported the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF), demonstrating her long-standing commitment to charitable causes.
1983: Gold record in France for "D'amour ou d'amitié"
In 1983, Céline Dion became the first Canadian artist to receive a gold record in France for the single "D'amour ou d'amitié". She also won several Félix Awards.
1985: Professional Break with Angélil
Around 1985, after the dissolution of Angélil's second marriage, he and Celine Dion took a break from each other professionally. During this time, he spent time in Las Vegas, while Dion focused on learning English and taking dance and vocal lessons in Montreal.
1988: Romantic relationship began with Rene Angelil
In 1988, Celine Dion and Rene Angelil's professional relationship turned romantic after Dion's win at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. This was known to family and friends for five years.
1988: Wins Eurovision Song Contest
In 1988, Céline Dion gained international recognition by winning the Eurovision Song Contest representing Switzerland with the song "Ne partez pas sans moi".
1989: Vocal injury and training
In 1989, Céline Dion injured her voice during a concert and chose vocal rest and training with William Riley over surgery.
1990: Establishment of Nickels Restaurant Franchise
In 1990, Celine Dion became an entrepreneur with the establishment of her franchise restaurant Nickels.
1990: Anglophone market debut with 'Unison'
In 1990, Céline Dion made her debut into the Anglophone market with the album 'Unison'.
1991: Duet on Beauty and the Beast
In 1991, Céline Dion duetted with Peabo Bryson on the title track to Disney's animated film 'Beauty and the Beast'.
1991: Start of the Neilsen Soundscan era
In 1991, the Neilsen Soundscan era began. Celine Dion is the second best-selling female album artist in this era, with album sales of 53.2 million.
1992: Superstardom in North America
By 1992, with albums like 'Unison' and 'Celine Dion' and numerous media appearances, Céline Dion had achieved superstardom in North America.
1992: Promotion of self-titled album
Celine Dion's self-titled 1992 album was promoted with the slogan "Remember the name because you'll never forget the voice."
1992: Near relationship reveal
In 1992, Celine Dion nearly revealed her relationship with René Angélil in a tearful interview with journalist Lise Payette.
1993: National Celebrity Patron of CCFF
In 1993, Celine Dion became the National Celebrity Patron of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF), strengthening her role and commitment to the organization.
1993: Release of The Colour of My Love
In 1993, Celine Dion released the album The Colour of My Love, which ranked within the top 20 best-selling albums by women worldwide.
1995: Release of D'eux
In 1995, Celine Dion released D'eux (also known as The French Album in the United States), which became the best-selling French-language album. The album, written and produced by Jean-Jacques Goldman, featured the successful singles "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" and "Je sais pas".
March 1996: Launch of the Falling into You Tour
In March 1996, Celine Dion launched the Falling into You Tour to support her new album, performing concerts around the world for over a year.
July 1996: Performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
In July 1996, Celine Dion performed "The Power of the Dream" at the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.
1996: Release of Falling into You and Success of 'Because You Loved Me'
In 1996, Celine Dion released her fourth English-language album, Falling into You, which combined various musical elements. The album featured the No. 1 single "Because You Loved Me", which was the theme song for the 1996 film Up Close and Personal.
1996: Release of Falling into You
In 1996, Celine Dion released the album Falling into You, which became one of the top five best-selling albums by women worldwide.
1996: World Music Award for World's Best-selling Female Recording Artist of the Year
In 1996, Celine Dion won the World Music Award for "World's Best-selling Female Recording Artist of the Year" for the third time, solidifying her status as one of the best-selling artists in the world.
1997: Divestment from Nickels Restaurant Franchise
As of 1997, Celine Dion divested her interests in the Nickels restaurant chain and is no longer affiliated with the franchise.
1997: Release of Let's Talk About Love
In 1997, Celine Dion followed "Falling into You" with "Let's Talk About Love". The album was recorded in London, New York City, and Los Angeles, featuring collaborations with Barbra Streisand, the Bee Gees, and Luciano Pavarotti, among others.
1997: Contributions to Let's Talk About Love
In 1997, Celine Dion wrote a few of the songs on Let's Talk About Love.
1997: Success of "My Heart Will Go On"
In 1997, Celine Dion's song "My Heart Will Go On," the love theme for the film Titanic, topped charts worldwide and became her signature song. The song and its writers won multiple awards, including Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song, and Grammy Awards for Dion.
1997: Forbes Top-Earning Female Musician
In 1997, Forbes named Celine Dion as the top-earning female musician for the year, highlighting her financial success and popularity in the music industry.
1998: Start of the Let's Talk About Love Tour
In 1998, Celine Dion embarked on the Let's Talk About Love Tour to support her album. The tour continued through 1999.
1998: Release of These Are Special Times and VH1's Divas Live Performance
In 1998, Celine Dion released the Christmas album These Are Special Times and performed on VH1's Divas Live special with other superstars. In 1998, she also received two of the highest Canadian honours.
1998: Contributions to These Are Special Times
In 1998, Celine Dion wrote a few of the songs on These Are Special Times.
1998: Let's Talk About Love World Tour began
In 1998, Céline Dion started the Let's Talk About Love World Tour, which was one of the highest-grossing concert tours of the 1990s.
1998: Forbes Top-Earning Female Musician
In 1998, Forbes recognized Celine Dion as the top-earning female musician for the year, acknowledging her continued financial success and impact in the music industry.
1999: Let's Talk About Love Tour continues.
Celine Dion's "Let's Talk About Love Tour" continued throughout 1999, captivating audiences worldwide with her performances.
1999: End of the 1990s with multiple album releases and Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame Induction
In 1999, Celine Dion released the French-language album S'il suffisait d'aimer and the compilation album All the Way... A Decade of Song. By the end of the 1990s, she had sold more than 130 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame and was honoured with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
1999: Release of All the Way... A Decade of Song
In 1999, Celine Dion released the album All the Way... A Decade of Song, which ranked within the top 20 best-selling albums by women worldwide.
March 2002: Release of A New Day Has Come
In March 2002, Celine Dion released "A New Day Has Come", her most personal album to date, focusing on motherhood and maturation. The album debuted at No. 1 in many countries, including the United States and Canada.
2002: Last topped the chart with A New Day Has Come
Celine Dion's last US number-one album before Courage was released in November 2019, was A New Day Has Come in 2002.
2002: Commercial Success and Critical Reception of 'A New Day Has Come' and VH1 Divas Live appearance
In 2002, Celine Dion's album A New Day Has Come achieved commercial success but received mixed critical reviews. She also performed at VH1 Divas Live to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.
2002: Incorporation of dance-pop in A New Day Has Come
In 2002, Celine Dion's album A New Day Has Come notably incorporated elements of dance-pop to a greater extent than her previous releases.
2002: Announcement of A New Day... Residency
In early 2002, Celine Dion announced a three-year contract for 600 shows of "A New Day..." at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
March 2003: Premiere of A New Day...
On March 25, 2003, Celine Dion's show "A New Day..." premiered at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show, a combination of dance, music, and visual effects, was directed by Franco Dragone and choreographed by Mia Michaels.
October 2003: Release of 1 fille & 4 types
In October 2003, Celine Dion released the francophone album 1 fille & 4 types (1 Girl & 4 Guys), which was better received than her previous two releases. Dion collaborated with Jean-Jacques Goldman, Gildas Arzel, Eric Benzi, and Jacques Veneruso. The album cover displayed a simple and relaxed manner. It achieved commercial success in France, Canada, and Belgium, reaching No. 1 and earning 2x platinum certification in France.
2003: Start of A New Day... Residency
In 2003, Celine Dion began her residency show, A New Day..., in Las Vegas, which ran until 2007 and became one of the highest-grossing residency shows of all time.
2003: Support of World Children's Day
In 2003, Celine Dion joined other celebrities, athletes, and politicians to support "World Children's Day", a global fundraising effort sponsored by McDonald's to benefit orphanages and children's health organizations.
2003: Performance of "God Bless America" at Super Bowl XXXVII
In 2003, Celine Dion performed "God Bless America" during pregame festivities for Super Bowl XXXVII in Qualcomm Stadium.
2003: Release of One Heart and Chrysler Endorsement
In 2003, Celine Dion released "One Heart", an album representing her appreciation for life, in conjunction with an endorsement deal with Chrysler. The album, consisting mainly of pop and dance music, received mixed criticism.
2003: Deal with Coty to release Celine Dion Parfums
In 2003, Celine Dion signed a deal with Coty to release Celine Dion Parfums, marking her entry into the fragrance industry.
2003: Incorporation of dance-pop in One Heart
In 2003, Celine Dion's album One Heart notably incorporated elements of dance-pop to a greater extent than her previous releases.
2003: A New Day... residency began
In 2003, Céline Dion began her residency show, A New Day..., in Las Vegas, which would become the highest-grossing concert residency of all time.
October 2004: Air Canada Promotional Campaign
In October 2004, Air Canada hired Celine Dion as part of their promotional campaign to unveil new service products and an updated livery, with Dion singing "You and I", the theme song written by advertising executives.
2004: Chopard Diamond Award
By 2004, Celine Dion had sold over 175 million albums worldwide. In 2004, Celine Dion received the Chopard Diamond Award from the World Music Awards, a rare honor given for selling over 100 million albums during an artist's career.
2004: Fundraising for Tsunami Victims
In 2004, Celine Dion held a fund-raising event for the victims of the Asian tsunami, which subsequently raised more than $1 million, demonstrating her commitment to disaster relief efforts.
2004: Miracle Album Release
In 2004, Celine Dion released her English-language studio album, Miracle. This multimedia project with photographer Anne Geddes focused on babies and motherhood and included lullabies and covers like "What a Wonderful World" and "Beautiful Boy". The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 in Canada, eventually earning platinum certification from the RIAA.
2004: Forbes Top-Earning Female Musician
In 2004, Forbes named Celine Dion as the top-earning female musician for the year, solidifying her status as a financially successful and influential figure in the music industry.
July 2005: Success of A New Day... Show
In the first half of 2005, Celine Dion sold 322,000 tickets and grossed US$43.9 million for her "A New Day..." show. By July 2005, she had sold out 315 of 384 shows.
2006: Forbes Top-Earning Female Musician
In 2006, Forbes once again recognized Celine Dion as the top-earning female musician for the year, underscoring her consistent financial success and prominence in the music industry.
January 2007: End Date Announced for A New Day...
On January 5, 2007, it was announced that Celine Dion's show, A New Day..., at Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas would end on December 15, 2007.
May 2007: Release of D'elles
On May 21, 2007, Celine Dion released the French-language album D'elles, which debuted at the top of the Canadian album charts, selling 72,200 copies in its first week. The first single "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)" debuted at the top of the French singles chart a month earlier.
October 2007: Ticket Sales for Final A New Day... Shows
In October 2007, tickets for Celine Dion's A New Day... shows after October went on sale from March 1, before the show ultimately ended in December 2007.
December 2007: End of A New Day... Residency
In December 2007, Celine Dion's residency show, A New Day... concluded, grossing over US$385 million and drawing nearly three million people to 717 shows. On December 10, 2007, the Live in Las Vegas: A New Day... DVD was released in Europe, followed by a North American release on December 11.
2007: End of A New Day... Residency
In 2007, Celine Dion concluded her residency show, A New Day..., in Las Vegas, which had been running since 2003 and grossed a significant amount of revenue.
2007: A New Day... residency ended
In 2007, Céline Dion ended her residency show, A New Day..., in Las Vegas, which was the highest-grossing concert residency of all time.
2007: Song written for D'elles album
Many years after a tearful 1992 interview, Lise Payette penned the song "Je cherche l'ombre" for Celine Dion's 2007 album D'elles.
February 2008: Launch of Taking Chances Tour
On February 14, 2008, Celine Dion launched her year-long global Taking Chances Tour in South Africa, performing 132 dates across 5 continents.
August 2008: Free Concert in Quebec City
On August 22, 2008, Celine Dion presented a free outdoor concert, mostly in French, on the Plains of Abraham, for the 400th anniversary of Quebec City, gathering approximately 490,000 people.
October 2008: Release of My Love: Essential Collection
In late October 2008, Celine Dion's English-language greatest hits album, My Love: Essential Collection, was released worldwide.
November 2008: Release of Céline sur les Plaines DVD
On November 11, 2008, the concert called Céline sur les Plaines, was released on DVD in Quebec after the August 2008 concert.
2008: Donation to Sichuan Earthquake Relief
In 2008, Celine Dion donated $100,000 to the China Children & Teenagers' Fund and sent a letter showing her consolation and support after the Sichuan earthquake.
2008: Honorary Doctorate and Legion of Honour
In 2008, Celine Dion received an honorary doctorate degree in music from Université Laval and was presented with the Legion of Honour by former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, recognizing her contributions and achievements.
2008: Juno Award Nominations
In 2008, Celine Dion was nominated for six Juno Awards, including Artist of the Year, Pop Album of the Year for Taking Chances, Francophone Album of the Year for D'elles, and Album of the Year for both Taking Chances and D'elles.
2008: Taking Chances World Tour began
In 2008, Céline Dion began the Taking Chances World Tour, which was among the highest-grossing concert tours of the 2000s.
May 2009: Ranked Among Best-Selling Artists of the Decade
In May 2009, Celine Dion was named the 20th best-selling artist and the second-best-selling female artist of the decade in the United States, with approximately 17.57 million albums sold since 2000.
May 2009: Release of Céline sur les Plaines DVD in France
On May 20, 2009, the concert called Céline sur les Plaines, was released on DVD in France.
June 2009: Forbes Reports Dion's Earnings
In June 2009, Forbes reported that Celine Dion earned $100 million during 2008.
December 2009: "Artist of the Decade" in Quebec
In December 2009, Celine Dion was named "Artist of the Decade" in Quebec by Le Journal de Québec, based on a public online survey.
December 2009: Highest-Grossing Solo Live Music Act
In December 2009, Pollstar announced that Celine Dion was the highest-grossing solo live music act in North America of the decade, second overall behind the Dave Matthews Band, with $522.2 million grossed during the decade.
2009: Donation for Titanic Survivor
In 2009, Celine Dion joined Leonardo DiCaprio, James Cameron and Kate Winslet to donate money to support the nursing home fees of the then-last living survivor of the sinking of the Titanic, Millvina Dean. The campaign resulted in $30,000 as donation.
2009: Taking Chances World Tour ended
In 2009, Céline Dion ended the Taking Chances World Tour, which was among the highest-grossing concert tours of the 2000s.
January 2010: Top Earner of the Decade
In January 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported that Celine Dion was the top earner of the decade, with $747.9 million in total revenue from 2000 to 2009, mainly from ticket sales totaling $522.2 million.
February 2010: Announcement of Celine Residency at Caesars Palace
In February 2010, Celine Dion announced her return to Caesars Palace for a new three-year residency, Celine, beginning March 2011, featuring music from her repertoire and classic Hollywood films.
February 2010: Release of Celine: Through the Eyes of the World
On February 17, 2010, Celine Dion released Celine: Through the Eyes of the World, a documentary film about her Taking Chances Tour, showing behind-the-scenes footage. Also in February 2010, at the 52nd Grammy Awards, Dion joined other artists to perform "Earth Song" during a Michael Jackson tribute.
May 2010: Most Popular Musician in the US
In May 2010, a Harris Poll named Celine Dion the most popular musician in the United States, ahead of U2, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles.
May 2010: Release of Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert on Blu-ray and DVD
On May 4, 2010, Celine Dion released the CD/DVD, Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert, along with the documentary film Celine: Through the Eyes of the World on Blu-ray and DVD.
September 2010: Release of "Voler"
In September 2010, Celine Dion released the single "Voler", a duet with French singer Michel Sardou.
October 2010: Songwriting for Marc Dupré
In October 2010, it was announced that Celine Dion wrote and composed a new song for Canadian singer Marc Dupré, titled "Entre deux mondes".
March 2011: Premiere of Celine Residency at Caesars Palace
On March 15, 2011, Celine Dion's Celine residency show premiered at Caesars Palace.
September 2011: Release of Signature fragrance
In September 2011, Celine Dion released her latest fragrance, Signature, with an advertising campaign by Kraftworks NYC, expanding her Celine Dion Parfums line.
October 2011: Premiere of "Celine: 3 Boys and a New Show"
On October 1, 2011, the OWN Network premiered a documentary on Celine Dion's life, called, "Celine: 3 Boys and a New Show", detailing the months before, during and after her pregnancy, to the makings of her new Las Vegas Show. Also in October 2011, Celine Dion was voted as the celebrity people would most like to sit next to on an airplane. In September 2011, she released the 14th perfume from her Celine Dion Parfums Collection, called "Signature".
2011: Start of Celine Residency
In 2011, Celine Dion began her second residency show, Celine, in Las Vegas, which ran until 2019 and further solidified her status as a top-grossing residency act.
May 2012: Recording of new English and French albums
In May 2012, Celine Dion began recording songs for her next English and French albums.
2012: Performance at the 16th Jazz and Blues Festival in Jamaica
In 2012, Celine Dion performed at the 16th Jazz and Blues Festival in Jamaica.
2013: Companion of the Order of Canada
In 2013, Celine Dion was elevated to the Companion of the Order of Canada by the governor general of Canada, David Johnston, in recognition of her cultural contributions to the country.
August 2014: Postponement of Show Business Activities
On 13 August 2014, Celine Dion announced the indefinite postponement of all her show business activities, including her concert residency at Caesars Palace, and the cancellation of her Asia Tour, due to her husband's health.
March 2015: Announcement of Return to Caesars Palace
On 20 March 2015, Celine Dion announced her return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in late August 2015.
August 2015: Return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace
In late August 2015, Celine Dion returned to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
October 2015: Beginning work on new French album
In October 2015, Celine Dion announced on social media that she had begun working on a new French album.
2015: "Voices" show presentation
Up until 2015, Celine Dion's co-produced show titled "Voices" by Véronic DiCaire, was presented 145 times.
2016: Billboard ranks Dion
In 2016, Billboard magazine listed Celine Dion at number 23 in their list of the 200 greatest singers, recognizing her vocal talent and impact on the music industry.
August 2017: Compilation Un peu de nous topped the chart in France
In July and August 2017, Celine Dion's compilation, Un peu de nous, topped the chart in France.
August 2018: Asia-Pacific tour
From June to August 2018, Celine Dion toured the Asia-Pacific region and grossed $56.5 million from 22 shows.
September 2018: Announcement of end of Las Vegas residency
On 24 September 2018, Celine Dion announced the end of her Las Vegas residency Celine, with the final date set for 8 June 2019.
November 2018: Launch of Celinununu Clothing Line
In November 2018, Celine Dion launched Celinununu, a gender-neutral clothing line for kids, expanding her ventures beyond music and fragrances.
March 2019: Participation in supergroup recording of Renée Claude's single
In March 2019, Celine Dion participated in a supergroup recording of Renée Claude's 1971 single "Tu trouveras la paix".
April 2019: Announcement of Courage World Tour
On 3 April 2019, Celine Dion announced her 2019/2020 Courage World Tour and a new English-language album of the same name.
September 2019: Beginning of the Courage World Tour
On 18 September 2019, Celine Dion's 2019/2020 Courage World Tour began in Quebec City.
2019: End of Celine Residency
In 2019, Celine Dion concluded her second residency show, Celine, in Las Vegas, which had been running since 2011 and contributed significantly to her concert revenue.
June 2020: Announcement of Courage World Tour resumption
On 10 June 2020, Celine Dion announced her Courage World Tour will kick off again in 2021, after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Continuation plans for the Courage World Tour
On 3 April 2019, Celine Dion announced her 2019/2020 Courage World Tour
May 2021: Announcement of return to Las Vegas
On 21 May 2021, it was announced Celine Dion would return to Las Vegas in November of the same year, for a limited-run installment of ten dates in collaboration with Resorts World Las Vegas.
2021: Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music
In 2021, Celine Dion received a second honorary doctorate degree in music from Berklee College of Music, further recognizing her impact and achievements in the music industry.
January 2022: Cancellation of North American tour dates
On 15 January 2022, Celine Dion canceled her North American tour dates due to severe muscle spasms.
2022: Cancellation of Courage World Tour
In 2022, Céline Dion had to cancel her Courage World Tour following a diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome.
2023: Starring in Love Again
In 2023, Celine Dion starred as herself in Love Again, her first acting appearance in a feature film.
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