Celine: The Authorized Biography (Paperback)

Simply entitled Celine, this is the long-awaited, authorized biography of Celine Dion, the rags-to-riches story of a woman who has become the leading recording artist in the world. First published in French in Quebec in December 1997, Celine has sold in excess of 120,000 copies in Quebec alone. A French-language edition will be released in France this fall, to coincide with the release of a new French album. Celine Dion is one of the world's best-loved and best-selling recording artists; her singles and albums have topped the international charts for several years. Her awards include numerous Junos, Grammys, and World Music Awards. Her most recent album, Let's Talk About Love, has already sold over 25 million units world-wide since its release in November 1997. The song "My Heart Will Go On" from the box-office record-setting film Titanic is now the most frequently heard single in the history of American radio. Celine is the story of Celine Dion, her family, and her husband; it is the story of a child, with thirteen siblings, from a lower middle-class family, who grew up to achieve the status of pop icon and global diva. Along the way, she garnered the respect of some of the top people in the music industry, such as David Foster, Barbra Streisand, Luciano Pavarotti, and Sir George Martin. The author, Georges-Hebert Germain, travelled with Celine and her entourage for over a year. Germain is the author of a number of popular biographies, children's books, and books on Quebec history, including a biography of the renowned hockey player, Guy Lafleur. The book was translated into English by David Homel, who is an author and award-winning translator. Germain gives the reader the full story of how Rene Angelill became Celine's manager and, eventually, her husband. He also tells how Rene brought Celine to the status of pop icon in Quebec and then worked to help her achieve the same status on a global level. The competitive world of the contemporary music industry is revealed how the deals are put together, how the marketing machinery is motivated, and how songs come to be chosen and produced. Making it to the top demands talent certainly, but also overriding ambition, good luck, and marketing savvy. Celine is also a close-up of American popular culture, and the impact it has around the world. The book shows how a singing sensation becomes the guest of prime ministers, presidents, and sultans.

"Celine" is more than just the story of a singer. It is the story of a strong and passionate woman who is devoted to her family, and to her manager and husband, Rene. It is also the story of what can be accomplished when you believe in yourself.

Author Georges-Hebert Germain travelled with Celine and her entourage for more than one year, and has written this inspiring portrait of one of the world's best-loved vocal artists.

Born in Charlemagne, Quebec, in 1968, the youngest of fourteen children, Celine Dion began her rise to the top at a young age, recording her first album when she was just 13. Since then she has gone on to become the world's most popular singer, and has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments along the way.

Celine has won numerous Junos, Grammys and World Music Awards, and ha worked with such legends as Barbara Streisand, David Foster, Luciano Pavarotti and Sir George Martin. She enchanted a global audience with her performance of "The Power of the Dream" during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics, and has made appearances on Oprah, The Tonight Show with Hay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman. In the past year, her album Lets' Talk About Love has sold more than 25 million copies, while the song "My Heart Will Go On" from the motion picture Titanic is now the most frequently heard single in the history of American radio.

But behind the music, the success and the fame lies a woman whose true greatness has, until now, only been known to the people around her. This is her story.