— -- Celine Dion's husband René Angélil has died at the age of 73, ABC News has confirmed.
Angélil, who has been married to the famed singer since 1994, had been battling cancer for some time.
"René Angélil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer," a rep for the couple told People magazine. "The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment; more details will be provided at a later time."
Angélil had been Dion’s manager for more than 30 years, but stepped down in 2014 after his throat cancer returned. He underwent throat surgery that left him unable to swallow and talk.
That same year, Dion, 47, took some time off from her regular residency in Las Vegas to be with her husband. When she returned to the stage last year, she spoke to ABC News about life at home taking care of the father of her three sons.
"We are afraid of explaining [the cancer to the kids] because we’re scared, because we’re worried ... We are taking life one day at a time," she said. "Like I said to my children, ‘You want to come and help me feed papa today...You want to help me out? Want to hold the water? You are a good feeder. Good job, Nelson. Good job, Eddie. Thank you so much. Come on, give a kiss to papa.'"
Dion also opened up about the moment she found out her husband's cancer was back after almost 15 years.
She was just about to go on stage, but "I went back in my dressing room and I saw him looking pretty devastated, in shock, and I was like, ‘What’s going on?' He said, ‘I have cancer again. The doctor just called me and I have cancer again.’"
Angélil is survived by his wife, and their sons -- Rene-Charles, 14, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 5.
