Celine Dion's Husband René Angélil Dies After Long Battle With Cancer

Celine Dion's Husband René Angélil Dies After Long Battle With Cancer

Unfortunately, another tragedy has occurred today.

Céline Dion's husband René Angélil has died after long battle with throat cancer.

The 73-year-old, who also mentored and managed the iconic singer's career, passed away in his Las Vegas home Thursday. "René Angélil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer," the singer's camp posted on her website.

"The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment; more details will be provided at a later time."

The Clark County Office states Angélil died of throat cancer at his home in Henderson while under care of a physician, adding that the technical medical description of the cause of death is "squamous carcinoma of the floor of the mouth." Furthermore, the coroner tells E! News, "We have determined Mr. Angélil's death was due to natural causes. No further investigation into his death is expected. Our condolences go out to Mr. Angélil's family and friends during this difficult time for them."

He is survived by their children René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson andEddy,  and his adult children from a previous relationship, Anne-Marie, Patrickand Jean-Pierre.

When Dion previously announced she would be going on hiatus from her Las Vegas residency because her husband's health had taken a turn again, fans didn't know whether she would return to the stage, but during an interview in August, the soulful singer revealed that she'd decided to take the stage at Caesars Palace again, because "my biggest job is to tell my husband, we're fine. I'll take care of our kids. You'll watch us from another spot."

Dion said at the time that she resorts to being strong in times like these, but sometimes Angélil "needs something more sensitive than that, more than just positivity. Sometimes he just wants me to enter into a different place with him."

She continued, "I'll say, 'You're scared? I understand. Talk to me about it.' And René says to me, 'I want to die in your arms.' OK, fine, I'll be there, you'll die in my arms."

"When you see someone who is fighting so hard, it has a big impact on you," she said. "You have two choices. You look at your husband who's very sick and you can't help, and it kills you. Or you look at your husband that's sick and you say, 'I got you. I got it. I'm here. It's going to be just fine.'"

The couple married in 1994.