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Celine Dion takes career hiatus due to family health concerns

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CelineDion, right, poses with her husband Rene Angelil, left, and son Rene Charles Angelil, right, as they arrive for the premiere of the film "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World" in Miami Beach. Picture: Lynne Sladky/AP ~
CelineDion, right, poses with her husband Rene Angelil, left, and son Rene Charles Angelil, right, as they arrive for the premiere of the film "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World" in Miami Beach. Picture: Lynne Sladky/AP ~

Singer Celine Dion said on Wednesday that she had decided to put her career on hold indefinitely and has cancelled her Asia tour and shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to focus on her ailing husband and her family.

The Grammy winner said it has been a stressful and difficult time since her 72-year-old husband and manager, Rene Angelil, had surgery in December to remove a cancerous tumour from his throat.

Dion, one of the top-earning singers in the world, has also been suffering from an illness that has caused inflammation in her throat muscles.

Read: Experts warn against the dangers to the voice box from too much karaoke 

The Canadian-born singer, who has been doing a concert residency at Caesar's Palace, has not performed since her July 29 Las Vegas show.

"I want to devote every ounce of my strength and energy to my husband's healing, and to do so, it's important for me to dedicate this time to him and to our children," Dion, 46, said in a statement.

The singer, whose hits include the "Titanic" theme song "My Heart Will Go On" and "If You Asked Me To," has three children with Angelil, Rene Charles, 13, and three-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson.

Dion had been due to begin a tour in Asia later this year. She apologised to her fans and thanked them for their support.


Read more:

Drinking piping hot tea can up your throat cancer risk
Can I get cancer from oral sex?
Michael Douglas also had a tumour in his throat

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