If Celine Dion took us all by surprise during her appearance at the last Grammy awards gala, the Dion family was part of the secret. “Well yes, we knew that! We were waiting for her to come by and, obviously, they saved her for dessert,” confirms Claudette Dion, who however did not at all appreciate Taylor Swift’s attitude towards her famous sister.
• Read also: Taylor Swift’s slap to Céline
A few days before the ceremony, last February, Celine Dion called her family to announce that she would be making her comeback on stage by presenting a Grammy award.
“I didn’t ask who was going to accompany him. When I saw her on the arm of René-Charles, confident, with her little beard, it was sick, really! He is an introvert in life. Even though he loves music, he’s not someone who expresses himself too much in public, so we know he did it for his mother. He was watching her. A real René Angélil,” adds the sister of the diva that The newspaper met on the red carpet of comedian Mario Jean’s show Tuesday evening.
– The Mario Jean show. – In the photo, Claudette Dion – Red carpet and show please. His 7th solo show; celebrates 30 years of career. – Place des Arts, at the Théâtre Maisonneuve, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tuesday March 5, 2024 PHOTO: MARTIN ALARIE/LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL/AGENCE QMI
MARTIN ALARIE / AGENCE QMI / LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL
What did Claudette Dion and her family think of the discomfort created by singer Taylor Swift who snatched the trophy from Céline’s hands, without even looking at her or thanking her?
“We knew she was going to win, we leave her talent to her, that has nothing to do with it. But the lack of good manners and attitude, that doesn’t happen. Who gives you your trophy? Hello! A little hug perhaps, a little thank you? Honestly, it made us sad,” confides Céline’s godmother.
Claudette Dion nevertheless says she is encouraged to have seen Céline stand up and look so good on stage. She assures that her mental health is “truly incredible”.
“We had a little Zoom, we were talking and she said to us: “do you want me to sing you a song?” She sang us a little song. She’s really good,” says the woman who says she has confidence in research and doctors to find a cure that could help Céline fight the illness she suffers from (stiff person syndrome).
“Céline deserves it, she gave much more than she took in life,” breathes the one who will be in the tribute show to Édith Piaf, There was a voice… Piaf, next March and April.
Photo Amy Sussman/Getty Images via AFP
Mama Dion’s legacy
Very emotional, Claudette Dion recalls that mother Dion, who died four years ago, would have been 97 years old this year.
“I always feel it present and alive. She guides me to the Foundation. His photo is everywhere and it turns me on, he’s a beautiful model,” she explains, shedding a few tears. The performer is also preparing a special Mother’s Day show to raise funds to help children from poor families for the start of the school year. Which is the legacy of his own mother.
On May 5 at the Montreal Casino, Claudette Dion will be surrounded by Paul, Émilie and Dan Daraîche, Natalie Choquette and Rita Tabbakh to deliver this show called The one that taught me everything: the title of a song that Céline had given to mother Dion.
“I want to end the show with Céline’s video from The one that taught me everything, so that all the guests sing with me and Céline for our mother and all the mothers, who are our inspirations.”