15 Photos of Celine Dion’s ’90s Magic

Céline Dion, known as the “Queen of Power Ballads,” she is celebrated as one of the most successful and influential singers in music history. She has sold over 200 million records worldwide, making her the best-selling Canadian and French-language artist, as well as one of the top-selling musical artists ever. She has explored various music genres, including pop, rock, R&B, chanson, and classical.

In this slideshow, we explore Céline Dion career and her most iconic moments.

Céline Dion is the sixth most successful female artist on the U.S. Billboard 200 and has seven albums that each sold at least 10 million copies globally. She is the second woman to earn over $1 billion in concert revenue.

Céline Dion was named the world’s highest-paid female musician by Forbes for several years and she has received honorary doctorates in music from Berklee College of Music and Université Laval.

Early Songwriting Success: At just 12 years old, Celine Dion collaborated with her mother and brother to write her first song, “Ce n’était qu’un rêve,” which translates to “It Was Only a Dream.”

Breakthrough with René Angélil: After her father sent a recording of her song to music manager René Angélil, he was so moved by her voice that he decided to help her become a star. He even mortgaged his home to fund her first record, “La voix du bon Dieu,” which became a local hit in Quebec.

International Recognition: Dion gained international fame after winning the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo in 1982, where she received the “Top Performer” award and the gold medal for “Best Song” for her performance of “Tellement j’ai d’amour pour toi.”

Historic Achievements: By 1983, she became the first Canadian artist to earn a gold record in France for her single “D’amour ou d’amitié” and won multiple Félix Awards.

Eurovision Victory: In 1988, Celine represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Ne partez pas sans moi,” winning the contest.

After learning English, Celine Dion made her entry into the Anglophone market with her album Unison in 1990. The album’s single “Where Does My Heart Beat Now” became Dion’s first top-ten hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four.

Disney Collaboration: Dion’s international breakthrough came with her duet with Peabo Bryson on the title track of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991).

Grammy Award Winner: The song “Beauty and the Beast” earned its songwriters an Academy Award for Best Song and won Dion her first Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Record-Breaking Album: Dion’s Let’s Talk About Love became a major success, reaching No. 1 globally and achieving platinum status.

Massive Sales in Canada: The album sold 230,212 copies in its first week in Canada, setting a record, and was later certified diamond for over one million copies shipped.

Signature Song: The most successful single from the album, “My Heart Will Go On,” served as the love theme for the blockbuster film Titanic (1997) and became Dion’s signature song, topping charts worldwide.

Award-Winning Track: “My Heart Will Go On” earned its songwriters an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song, while Dion won two Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year.

UK Chart Achievements: Dion became the only female artist in the UK to have two singles, “My Heart Will Go On” and “Think Twice,” each selling over a million copies.

Successful Tours: In support of Let’s Talk About Love, Dion embarked on the Let’s Talk About Love Tour between 1998 and 1999, further solidifying her global popularity.

Diverse Discography: She concluded the 1990s with several successful albums, including the Christmas album These Are Special Times (1998), which featured orchestral arrangements, and the French-language album S’il suffisait d’aimer.

Numerous Awards and Honors: By the end of the 1990s, Dion had sold over 130 million records worldwide and received numerous industry awards, including honors from the Canadian government for her contributions to music, and was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame.