Celine Dion Bares All On Life After The Death Of Her Husband, Rene

Four months ago, the French-Canadian singer Celine Dion lost her husband, René Angélil to throat cancer. He died at age 73.

In an exclusive interview with People.com , the mum-of-three bares her heart on how she’s been dealing with the unimaginable heartbreak of her husband’s death and how she’s been coping with motherhood.

For the hardworking mum, work has become her safe haven as she will be taking the stage at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards to receive the Icon award and performing a cover of Queen’s “The Show Must Go On,” a song title that had a strong significance in the couple’s romance and work relationship.

She added: “René always insisted the show must go on. You know what, I’m 48 years old and I lost the love of my life. I miss him a lot from when he was great but not when he was suffering. I cannot be selfish. You have to let people go. I feel at peace.”

Celine’s husband, who served as her manager and mentor, had battled three bouts of cancer, which led to his wife putting her career on hold in order to take care of her man.

As time went on, his cancer got worse, speaking became very difficult for Rene.

She says she and Rene braced themselves for the inevitable.

“I’m not the type of person who’s going to say, ‘I know he’s going to make it.

“There were times when I was very, very scared and he’d write me ‘The end is near, I feel it.’ I would go back and say ‘How can you say that? Are you in more pain?’ Now I know it’s possible for someone dying to feel when it comes.”

Living each day of her life without her husband has been difficult, Celine says.

“He left me with all of his strength. Every day we live with him, just not physically. I’m thankful that he does not suffer anymore.”

On staying strong for her Kids, the proud mum says: ”I really, really want to prove to my kids their mother is strong.”

The lovebirds first met in Montreal when Celine was just 12 and went on to spend 21 years of marriage together and are blessed with three adorable children, René-Charles, 15, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy.

Photo credit: Alex Berlinder/BEimages/YU TSAI