'I miss being hugged': Céline Dion's heartbreaking admission four years after husband's passing

In a new interview, iconic singer Céline Dion has revealed she ‘misses being hugged and touched’ by a partner in the wake of her husband of 22 years, René Angélil’s death.

However, the 51-year-old confirmed that she’s still ‘not ready to date’ almost four years after losing her manager-turned-partner René to cancer.

Céline is single

“I don’t date,” the multi-award winner said matter of factly during her appearance on US TV show TODAY to promote her latest album, Courage.

“I’m not ready to date. I’m very lucky to have so many people in my surrounding to make me laugh, but I miss to be touched. I miss to be hugged. I miss to be told, ‘You’re beautiful.’ I miss what a boyfriend and I miss what a husband would do,” she added.

Céline went on to explain how she’s coping personally and professionally after René, who she married in 1994.

“This is my first English album without René,” the mother-of-three said.

Céline continues to raise the couple’s three sons, 18-year-old René Charles and 8-year-old twins Eddie and Nelson.

“When I say without Rene I mean without René physically, because René will always be a part of me. Courage was representing the whole losing my husband, losing my manager, my kids losing their father, and finding the strength to keep going - because I wanted to” she explained.

Boy toy rumours busted

Earlier this month, the My Heart Will Go On hitmaker opened up about her close bond with reported ‘boy toy’ Pepe Muñoz, 34, who she met after René’s passing.

Céline said she instantly connected with backup dancer Pepe when they met three years ago and he’s a massive part of her life today.

However, Celine and her team hit back at reports that he was ‘taking over her life,’ saying she was “saddened and disappointed” by what was said, labelling it “untrue gossip”.

According to her, Pepe is gay and simply her ‘best friend’.

Céline and René’s final goodbye

René passed away at the family’s home in Las Vegas at the age of 73, and Céline revealed she can still remember the last words her husband spoke to her.

“He called me before a show and gave me a little message, ‘I love you,’” she recalled.

“When I came home that night, it was very, very late. I didn’t want to come and wake him up to give him a kiss and then he can’t find sleep again... and the next morning he was gone,” she added.

“We talked before and he sent me a text message, so we said goodbye”.

Céline shared that she has kept that final text message from her husband and still looks at it to this day.

“It’s life,” she said. “I know that right now the courage that I have, he has given it to me all my life”.

Céline is set to kick-off her Courage World Tour in Quebec City, Canada, on September 18 and says she is eager to perform in front of fans.

“I have to spread my wings and I have to prove to myself, to my children, to my team and to my fans that I’m fine and that I’m strong,” she said.

“And I feel great.”

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Di Filippo.

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