Céline on Larry King, 22th of November 1999
Céline on Larry King, 22th of November 1999
KING: Going to Vegas, they'll to see your show or the night -- the day after your show?
DION: Actually, it's kind of a private show, Larry, for friends. So they're going to be there with us for that show. And we're going to celebrate Christmas. We're going to share gifts and time and dance and music and love and hugs. And the fifth, Rene and I are getting married again.
KING: Redo the vows?
DION: Yes.
KING: Because?
DION: Because -- because I love him more than ever and because five is our lucky number. It's going to be five years we're going to be married.
KING: So January 5th?
DION: Fifth, 5:00 for five years of marriage.
KING: In Las Vegas?
DION: In Las Vegas, yes, thank you very much.
KING: It's a good day do bet number five.
DION: Exactly.
KING: Anyway, we're going to take a break, come back and go to your phone calls for Celine Dion. We're learning lots here. Later you're going to meet the aforementioned Rene.
This is LARRY KING LIVE.
Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're back on LARRY KING LIVE with Celine Dion, who's won five Grammys. What do you think -- where are you working New Year's Eve?
DION: New Year's Eve, the 31st of December I'm in Montreal home. There's....
KING: Aren't you in Vegas? Oh, that's New Year's Day.
DION: The 1st, the 1st. And Vegas is not really a show. It's kind of a private for friends and a couple of...
KING: Where will your last show be?
DION: The last real show, the 31st of December in Montreal.
KING: You're singing?
DION: I'm singing. It's a big show. I'm going to have some guests. I'm going to have a good time. It's many -- three-hour show. It's going to be a party. It's going to be my last show.
KING: What do you think that's going to be like, singing publicly, you know, not for family and stuff, for the last time?
DION: I keep thinking that it's going to be hard for me, but every time I'm trying to picture myself on stage it's kind of -- I want -- I don't want that to be sad. I want that. I want to stop. I want to take a break. So I definitely don't want to say, bye, everybody, I love you, boo-hoo.
I want to say, see you. See you soon. Take care of yourself, OK? See you soon I hope. All right. Thanks for tonight. Had a great time.
KING: Before we get some calls, do you -- you have a lot of self-confidence, don't you? I mean, you know you're good? You know you're good?
DION: I think I can do it. I think I'm all right. I think the kid is OK.
KING: You don't go on-stage worrying how am I going to do tonight?
DION: Not worrying. Sometimes if I'm sick, I'm worrying, yes, of course. But when the music starts, there's no second that I have to think am I going to -- no. You do the show or you don't do it. If you cancel, you cancel before. You don't wait until the last minute.
KING: The show we'll see Wednesday night on CBS was taped at Radio City, right?
DION: Radio City...
KING: You did an hour show in an hour and 15 minutes.
DION: That's right. That's right.
KING: That's amazing.
DION: Yes. I don't know. Like last year, I did this special that took a few more hours than that, and it was in a small studio with some people. And it was a little difficult, but I loved the experience. It just was long.
And this year, when they asked me to do another special, I was like, oh, I don't know if I can do that. Maybe, I'm not so good with this.
And it was Radio City Music Hall with -- it was a real show actually. It was an hour show with -- with an audience on stage. And it took us like an hour and 15 minutes.
KING: In it, we will see you sing with Frank Sinatra. He's singing "All the Way," the great Sammy Cahn tune.
DION: Yes.
KING: Is that hard? He's on tape, right? I mean, it's a tape of Frank singing.
DION: He's on tape. And they found some footage of him singing "All the Way" with...
KING: From the movie?
DION: From different...
KING: Concerts?
DION: ... years, different years.
KING: Oh.
DION: Like you see him young, getting older, and singing the same song. They've done an amazing job.
KING: OK. What's it like to sing with a tape with a legend?
DION: There's such a legend and he's so unique that you cannot forget it's a tape. You forget that he's not physically with us anymore. You forget it, because some people don't die. And Frank is not dead.
KING: Is it difficult technically? You have different chords, right? You're singing with an orchestra. He's already -- that's done already.
DION: It was probably difficult for David Foster, who did an amazing job.
KING: Oh, he's the best.
DION: Well, you should ask him, but for me, no. Frank took me under his wings. And I didn't have much to do. He took me with him.
KING: Everyone talks about his phrasing. That's the key in Sinatra, isn't it?
DION: He's unique with that. It's very difficult to follow, but when you're in a studio you can always fix things. That's the magic of the recording. But I admire him so much.
KING: OK. We're going to take a -- we're going to take a break and come back. We'll take some calls for Celine Dion, and later, we'll meet her husband, Rene.
This is LARRY KING LIVE.
Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CELINE DION: ALL THE WAY")
DION (singing): There ain't a dream that don't have a chance to come true now. It just takes a little faith, baby. Anything that we want to do, we can do now. There ain't nothing in our way, baby. Nothing our love couldn't raise above. We can get through the night. We can get to the light. Long as we got our love to light the way. With just a little faith, just a little trust. If you believe in love, love can move mountains. Believe in your heart, and feel, feel it in your soul, and love (UNINTELLIGIBLE) oh, yes, love, baby, love can move mountains.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEABO BRYSON & DION (singing): Ever just the same, ever a surprise, ever as before, and ever just as sure as the sun will rise.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Private little nice ceremony or the whole -- the whole (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Montreal, Quebec, hello.
CALLER: Hi, I wanted to ask Celine, after you come back from your vacation with Rene, I wanted to know what would you like to do first: like, make a record or do some acting.
KING: She's already -- you're already back now.
DION: Exactly. Hello, Montreal, nice talking with you.
KING: What do you think you'll do?
DION: I don't know.
KING: She's back!
DION: Yes, and hopefully with -- I don't know. I want to do some acting too, so I don't know. Hopefully with a record, but maybe a movie too. Maybe a package deal. I don't know.
KING: Toronto, yes. Turn your TV down, go ahead.
CALLER: Hello?
KING: Go ahead.
CALLER: Hi, Celine.
DION: Hi, how are you?
CALLER: Great.
DION: What's your question?
CALLER: I just wanted to always say that you're just great. Up until you came along, I thought Barbra Streisand was great but now there's you as well. How was it like to work with her, and how is she as a person? And was there any competitiveness between the two of you?
DION: No competition. I can answer this right away. It was a dream come true for me definitely to meet Barbra and to work with her. As a woman, I've got to known her as a woman now. The artist, I'm -- she's my idol. I love her very, very much as an actress and as a singer, of course. But as the woman, she's so strong and she knows what she wants. And her eyes are everywhere, and she knows. And she's got so much. She knows so much. She gets behind a camera, behind the lights. OK, this light's no good for me. You've got to put it there. She knows what she wants and she's a very, very special lady, so -- and, of course, no competition. Of course not, no.
KING: And talented people are never thrown by someone who is very, very particular, are they?
DION: What do you mean, I'm sorry?
KING: I mean, you're talented so you understand her being particular about things.
DION: Absolutely.
KING: A top professional never worries about a top professional.
DION: I mean, I -- she knows what she needs, she knows what she wants. And the thing with Barbra is, like, she knows exactly how a camera works and how the lighting is good for her or what's her best side or she's going to look the best if she does this or that. And she's not shy to let the people know around her this is what I need and will go and down that. And she doesn't -- she's not afraid to spend hours and hours rehearsing until it's perfect. And I agree with that. It's great.
KING: The other, yes. The -- you don't know what minuses means? Well, that's all right. It's new in Montreal.
DION: Minuses.
KING: The less -- one of the down sides.
DION: I understand. I mean, my -- I don't see any.
KING: None at all?
DION: I don't see any, no. We've been a great team. It's been ...
KING: You must have had some disagreement.
DION: ... working so well. He hasn't been doing lots of mistakes so far -- for 18 years. I'm very proud of him.
KING: I mean, is there any place you were booked where you said, I don't want to go there or I don't want to do this?
DION: There's -- I've been -- I've been -- no, when we started working together, I've never asked any questions like that because I had no idea. I had no experience at all. So I needed to trust. I think this is one thing in life when you need to trust people. You cannot make it on your own. But with the years, because he's taught me so much, at one point, 10 years after or 13 or 14, 15 years after, I start -- like, let's say since three or four years ago, I started to not question -- I don't want to do this, I don't want to do that -- but I've asked questions like why -- why that? Or why do you want -- I don't think it's -- do you really think it's a good idea? I'm not sure. And he's like -- trust me on that.
KING: And he's right?
DION: And that's it. That's it.
KING: There's no -- you can't reduce in importance the importance of a good manager, right?
DION: It's the key. No matter talent -- whatever talent you -- you have, it's...
KING: Got to be directed?
DION: Oh, I meet so many wonderful, talented people. But the management and the orientation of the career and -- it's everything. But the only thing I have to do is go on stage...
KING: And do it.
DION: ... and do the best I can with my songs. That's it. I know the show will start. I know I get the best musicians, I know I get the best technicians, I know the trucks will be loaded, I know we're going to hit the road, I know it's going to be -- I don't have to worry about anything else.
KING: We'll be back with more of Celine Dion. A few more phone calls and then we'll meet her husband.
Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE")
DION (singing): It's the king of all who live and the queen of good hearts. It's the ace you may keep up your sleeve until the name is all but lost. As deep as any sea, with the range of any storm, but as gentle as a falling leaf on any autumn morn.
Let's talk about love. Let's talk about love.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "WHERE DOES MY HEART BEAT NOW")
DION (singing): Where does my heart beat now? Where is the sound that only echoes through the night? Where does my heart beat now? I can't live without, without feeling it inside, oh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Getting the whole Celine Dion here, aren't we?
You've got a new album -- we'll talk about that in a little while -- called "Celine All the Way... A Decade of Song." Let's get another call. New York City, hello.
CALLER: Hi, Larry.
KING: Hi.
CALLER: Hi, Celine.
DION: Hi.
CALLER: Firstly, I want to say I love your music and voice.
DION: Thank you very much.
CALLER: My question is have you ever considered and would you consider doing a musical play on Broadway?
KING: Great question.
DION: I think I'm a little afraid to be on stage every night.
KING: You're on stage every night when you tour.
DION: Almost, almost
KING: Oh, you mean in a part?
DION: Yes, but it would be fantastic, I think.
KING: Would you like to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) like do "Annie Get Your Gun."
DION: Oh, Larry, that would be great.
KING: "Oklahoma"?
DION: Definitely. I'd love to do some musicals.
KING: You'd pack them in.
DION: You think so?
KING: I think so.
DION: One thing is for sure, I'd love to do some movies. This is for sure. Maybe a little more than Broadway, but I'm not -- like I said, I'm -- you never know.
KING: We've talked a little about Rene. We're going to meet him right after these words.
Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "IMMORTALITY")
DION (singing): Immortality, there is a vision and a fire in me. Oh, I keep the memory of you and me inside. We don't say good bye. With all my love for you and what else we may do, we don't say goodbye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with our remaining moments. There you see the wedding of Celine Dion and Rene Angelil. They're going to repeat this -- I don't know if the same kind of gaudy, like as big as this going to be, at Caesar's Palace January 5th when they remarry. And joining his illustrious wife with us on their remaining moments here on LARRY KING LIVE is Rene Angelil. Give me a correct pronunciation.
DION: Perfect.
RENE ANGELIL, CELINE DION'S HUSBAND: Angelil. Angelil.
DION: Angelil.
KING: Haleel (ph) Angelil.
ANGELIL: Well, it was -- actually, it was -- you know, the doctors are so great. I had a great doctor that operated on me, Dr. Stickler (ph).
KING: But you were scared?
ANGELIL: I was scared, but it's important, the people that surround you, support you -- you need a lot of support from your family. Luckily, I had great support from Celine and from my children. They were there throughout the treatments.
KING: That's great. You look great.
ANGELIL: Yes, I feel great...
KING: Will you have that voice always? It's going to...
ANGELIL: Yes, always had a voice like this. Actually, I have a better voice now.
DION: I think he sounds better than ever.
KING: She was always very strong for you. When you met, though, you were much -- I mean, she was like a baby. How old was she?
ANGELIL: She was 12 years old.
KING: You didn't fall in love then?
DION: Don't start a story. They're going to write that.
KING: She was 12?
ANGELIL: She was 12.
KING: When did you realize you were in love?
ANGELIL: Well, you know, I got divorced when she was about 17, 1985, and we were always together, traveling together and working together. And one day in Dublin, actually, we were in -- in Dublin, in Ireland for the Eurovision Song Contest, 1988.
DION: Lucky country for us.
ANGELIL: Yes.
KING: And what did you say?
ANGELIL: I didn't say nothing.
DION: Didn't say much.
ANGELIL: But at night, you know, when you kiss good-night, always kiss on the cheek. And on that night, I made like a little stop right here and...
DION: A little stop.
ANGELIL: And everything changed.
KING: Had you fallen in love by then?
DION: I was in love a long time before that.
KING: Did you ever discuss the difference in ages as an impediment to the marriage?
DION: Absolutely not. You were more afraid of me, though.
ANGELIL: Yes. I was more afraid to -- to -- first of all, to -- to admit it to all the fans and all the people. It took like four or five years before she came out actually and wrote something on one of the albums.
DION: I couldn't keep this inside of me any longer.
KING: Do you have grown children?
ANGELIL: Yes, I have three great children.
KING: They get along with you?
DION: Very well.
KING: Are you looking forward to possibly being the father of a little one?
ANGELIL: Yes, I would love to.
KING: There's nothing like it.
ANGELIL: I'd love to. I envy you, Larry.
KING: There's nothing like it.
ANGELIL: I know. We're trying. And like Celine said, we're going to try real hard.
KING: She was telling me something. When you worked in Paris and he had to stay in Florida recuperating, he would talk in your ear while you were on stage at an outdoor concert.
DION: That's right. He wanted to be with me, I wanted to be with him. So what are you going to do?
I'm in Europe and he's in the United States. So...
KING: How many people were in the audience?
DION: Earplugs. We did two shows back to back in Stade du France: 98,000 per night with the French show. And a week later, I did an English show at stadium -- Wembley Stadium with an English show two nights in a row: 75,000 people.
KING: Now, he -- now, how did this work? You had an earpiece in your ear.
DION: Earpiece. I do my show, and like via satellite he could talk to me from our home in Florida.
ANGELIL: I watched every show of the stadium tour this summer in Europe.
DION: Yes.
ANGELIL: Like LARRY KING LIVE, it was live. Céline Dion live.
KING: So you're singing, and what would he say to you?
DION: I'd say: "When somebody loves you..." -- I'd say, I love you, honey, I miss you so much, you look beautiful. I'm like..."All the way"... -- and I'm like, OK, next song.
ANGELIL: We had a little sign.
DION: We had a sign, because I couldn't talk and say: "What was that? Me too, honey" -- love somebody. I couldn't do that.
DION: Love words.
ANGELIL: And not that many times by the way.
DION: No, but I loved every one of them.
KING: So why don't you do me a favor? There's this new album out called, Céline, by the way, "All the Way," you have kind of adopted this as your new song, huh?
DION: This is our new song, and this is the way we live. This is our -- when we do something, we go all the way.
KING: Great late friend Sammy Cahn wrote that song.
ANGELIL: Great song.
KING: You do these liner notes, and at the end you do a little note to -- to Rene.
DION: Yes.
KING: It's at the end of the liner notes. Would you read it?
DION: Of course, I'd love to.
KING: Hope you can -- it's small print.
DION: It's all right. "Dear René, when we chose to get married five years ago, we promised before man and God to help each other and to be totally committed and devoted through the good and bad times, in sickness and in health. The past year and its sadness and worries made me realize the power of those vows. My love, I am promising again that I will always be there for you, no matter what. I love you more each day and forever."
KING: Did you ever think you might lose him?
DION: I am afraid to lose him every day.
KING: When you got the news that day?
ANGELIL: You know, that's the first thing you think about when you hear this word...
KING: Word "cancer." Cancer sounds life and death.
ANGELIL: But it's not as bad as...
KING: Very curable if you get it early.
ANGELIL: Now, the doctors are so great. They work so hard to get where they are. You have to have confidence.
DION: Yes.
KING: Did you think? Were your worried?
Had to be worried.
ANGELIL: Of course. When I got the knew, I got worried but I had a great doctor there.
KING: And you had a great wife.
ANGELIL: A great wife.
DION: I became the manager. And I said, you're not going to let this thing kill you, I'm telling you.
KING: We've only got 30 seconds left. Are you looking forward to this retirement for two years?
ANGELIL: Oh, absolutely. We're so looking forward to -- we want to play golf, do some boating, travel, see the family.
KING: A manager with nothing to manage, a singer with nothing to sing.
DION: I'm telling you.
KING: Life deluxe. Thank you, darling.
DION: Larry, we'll be watching you.
KING: You see...
ANGELIL: We'll be watching you every night now.
KING: Wherever you are?
DION: Yes, exactly. No jet lag.
KING: And good luck on the new wedding.
DION: Thank you so much.
KING: January 5.
Tomorrow night, Phil Donahue is going to be with us.
Céline Dion, her husband, René, thanks very much for joining us.
For all of us here at LARRY KING LIVE, stay tuned for "CNN NEWSSTAND" and good night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "MY HEART WILL GO ON")
DION (singing): You're here, there's nothing I fear. And I know that my heart will go on. We'll stay forever this way. You are safe in my heart, and my heart will go on and on. (END VIDEO CLIP)
Courtesy of CNN