Celine Dion's Husband Rene Angelil Dies After Long Battle With Cancer

The 73-year-old, who also mentored and managed the iconic singer's career, passed away in his Las Vegas home Thursday.

Céline Dion's husband René Angélil has died after a long battle with cancer.

The 73-year-old, who also mentored and managed the iconic singer's career, passed away in his Las Vegas home Thursday. "It is with deep sadness that we announce that RenĂ© AngĂ©lil, aged 73, died this morning at his residence in Las Vegas after a long and courageous fight against cancer," Dion's camp said through a statement on her Facebook page.

"The family wishes to live the mourning in privacy. Other information you will be provided in the next few days."

The Clark County Office states  died of throat cancer at his home in Henderson while under care of a physician, adding that the technical medical description of the cause of death is "squamous carcinoma of the floor of the mouth." Furthermore, the coroner tells E! News, "We have determined Mr. AngĂ©lil's death was due to natural causes. No further investigation into his death is expected. Our condolences go out to Mr. AngĂ©lil's family and friends during this difficult time for them."

When Dion previously announced she would be going on hiatus from her Las Vegas residency because her husband's health had taken a turn again, fans didn't know whether she would return to the stage. During an interview in August, the soulful singer revealed that she'd decided to take the stage at Caesars Palace again, because "my biggest job is to tell my husband, we're fine. I'll take care of our kids. You'll watch us from another spot."

Dion added that she resorts to being strong in times like these, but sometimes Angélil "needs something more sensitive than that, more than just positivity. Sometimes he just wants me to enter into a different place with him."

She continued, "I'll say, 'You're scared? I understand. Talk to me about it.' And René says to me, 'I want to die in your arms.' OK, fine, I'll be there, you'll die in my arms."

"When you see someone who is fighting so hard, it has a big impact on you," she said. "You have two choices. You look at your husband who's very sick and you can't help, and it kills you. Or you look at your husband that's sick and you say, 'I got you. I got it. I'm here. It's going to be just fine.'"

The couple married in 1994. Angélil is survived by their children René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy, and his adult children from a previous relationship, Anne-Marie, Patrick and Jean-Pierre.

People was first to report the story.

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