Celine Dion’s Oldest Son Offers a Shoulder to Cry On at BBMAs

One of the most anticipated moments of the 2016 Billboard Music Awards came in the form of Celine Dion’s appearance. The powerhouse singer gave an electrifying performance of Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” a mere few months after suffering the loss of both her husband/manager René Angélil and her brother to cancer in January.

As touching as Dion’s delivery was, the emotional factor was raised when, following her song, she was joined onstage by her oldest son, René-Charles. The 15-year-old stood by his 48-year-old mother’s side as she accepted Billboard’s prestigious Icon Award — presenting a calm and sturdy tranquility as Dion broke down crying in front of the audience.

(Celine and René-Charles in 2009. Photo: WireImage)

This isn’t the first time the younger Angélil has demonstrated maturity beyond his years. At his father’s funeral, the teen addressed a full congregation at Mass with both grace and tenderness, giving a eulogy that brought many to tears. In it, he praised his dad as “a tough act to follow,” as well as promising to share his memory with younger brothers Nelson and Eddy (who were a mere 5 years old at their father’s passing).

“As they grow older, without you being around, I’ll make sure to pass on what I’ve learned from you,” he noted.

(Celine and family in 2007. Photo: WireImage)

René-Charles, whose social media accounts reveal typical high-school interests such as sports (he plays hockey for local youth team the Nevada Storm) and hanging out with friends, shared his affinity for hockey with his late father.

Dion and her husband had fertility issues with both their older son and their younger twin sons, resulting in a nine-year-gap between births. The elder Angélil was two days shy of his 74th birthday when he succumbed to a long battle with cancer. Dion’s brother died two days after he did.

The 2016 Billboard Music Awards aired live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas May 22.