Celine Dion thankful for fans

Celine Dion’s fans helped her appreciate that "life is beautiful".

The ‘My Heart Will Go On’ hitmaker was left devastated in January when René Angelil – the father of her sons René-Charles, 15, and five-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson – died after a long battle from throat cancer, but the gifts and kind words she receives every day have helped her to cope.

She said: "Every day I go out and there are hundreds of people giving me paintings of [René], letters for me, books to soothe me, products for me to take time for myself, candies for the kids, colouring books.

"It’s like, ‘Wow, this is beyond music.’ This is a relationship that I’ve been having with my fans for more than 30 years. They are helping me go through what millions and millions of people are going through every day.

"It makes you realise that life is beautiful, and you have to live for today. Today it’s raining in Paris, and it doesn’t make a difference for me anyway. Sunny, rainy, cold or hot, it’s how you feel inside and the passion that you share."

The 48-year-old singer is also comforted by the fact her sons have coped well with their father’s tragic passing, and her believe Rene is still "inside" her helps her carry on.

She told Entertainment Weekly magazine: "I am more than holding up, I have to tell you. My children, my family, my fans night after night–it feels like it’s not just one thing that’s helping me.

"My children adapted themselves so well, so that helps me as a mom to really cope with that tremendous loss. But I feel that he is inside of us, helping us, [saying] ‘Go for it! I’m here, the kids are safe–have your passion, have a good time.’ "