The couple met in Quebec when Céline, now 47, was a 12-year-old aspiring singer. He became her manager and she immediately rose to fame in her home province. By her late teens, she was known around the world.
Céline and René have three sons – René-Charles, 14, and twins Nelson and Eddy, five. René also leaves behind three grown children from two previous marriages – Patrick, 47; Jean-Pierre, 41 and Anne-Marie, 38.
René was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999, and at that time Céline took two years off from her career to take care of him. He later underwent surgery to remove a tumor in 2013.