During the past five years, Celine Dion balanced her career and personal life by performing a theatrical show in Las Vegas, Nevada. But, as VOA's Mary Morningstar tells us, the Canadian-born singer will travel the world this year to promote her new album, Taking Chances.
Celine Dion says she has taken chances her entire life, so Taking Chances is a fitting title for her eighth English language studio album.
In 2003, Celine made the decision to devote more time to her husband and young son. She signed one of the biggest entertainment deals in music history to perform a long-term engagement at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Rooting her family in one of America's top tourist cities allowed Celine to continue to work and be a stay-at-home mother. Her show, "A New Day," brought in nearly $400 million before ending in December of 2007.
During a break last year, Celine returned to the studio to record her first album in four years. Taking Chances shows an edgier sound than her previous albums, thanks to production help from Linda Perry, Ne-Yo, John Shanks and former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody.
"I think this album represents a positive evolution in my career. I'm feeling strong, maybe a little gutsier than in the past, and just as passionate about music and life as I ever was," Celine says.
In addition to 15 new tracks, Taking Chances includes a cover of Heart's 1987 Number One pop hit, "Alone."
Next month, Celine will open a world tour in Johannesburg, South Africa. She'll perform 50 shows in 18 countries before returning to the U.S. in August to begin North American concerts with a show in Boston, Massachusetts.
"I invited people for the last five years to my home, so now it's time for me to go see them," Celine says. "But, I've been on the road all my life. So, I have to say, Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas (with) a stage that's created for the show, doing this every night was totally different from being on the road. But, I have to say this tour is going to be very different from all the others because now I have a son. He's going to be coming. He'll be seven (years-old). And, my mom's coming too. And, it's going to be a world tour."
The Taking Chances tour is scheduled to run through January 2009. Celine Dion's new single, is "Eyes On Me."