Family top priority for Celine Dion

Los Angeles, Aug 23 (IANS) Singer Celine Dion has cancelled all her work engagements indefinitely to stay by her ailing 72-year-old spouse Rene Angelil's side, and to support their sons as family always comes first for her.

The 46-year-old singer's husband underwent treatment for a second bout of throat cancer in December, and she has been considering a break since his surgery. But she has now finally slowed down to devote time to him, and their sons - Rene Charles, 13, and three-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson.

"They are each other's lives. He and her family come first and she's always made that clear," Dion's friend Robin Leach told people.com.

"Ren© was making great progress and was out and about. Last time I saw him, he was very thin and frail. Celine had to take a step back, and her decision is a realisation that you have to hold onto everything while you've got it," added Leach.

Despite Angelil's condition, his family is "optimistic".