Rene Angelil, husband of Celine Dion, dies

Rene Angelil, Celine Dion's husband and manager, has died at his suburban Las Vegas home, authorities said Thursday. He was 73 and had battled throat cancer.

Angelil died in Henderson under the care of a doctor, Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg said.

Angelil died of natural causes, and no further investigation is expected, he said. Fudenberg's office was notified of the death Thursday.

A post on Dion's official Facebook page also confirmed the death: "It is with deep sadness that we announce that Ren Anglil, aged 73, died this morning at her residence in Las Vegas after a long and courageous fight against cancer. The family wishes to live the mourning in privacy."

Dion and Angelil have three children - Rene-Charles, who was born in 2001 and twins Nelson and Eddy, who arrived in 2010. He also has a son and daughter from his previous two marriages.

Dion and Angelil, who were 26 years apart in age, married in an elaborate ceremony in 1994 at Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. He was constantly seen by her side.

Dion won Grammy awards for songs including the "Titanic" theme "My Heart Will Go On." She returned to her residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in August after taking a year off to care for her husband.

Angelil was born in Montreal to a Canadian mother and Syrian father. He played in the group Les Baronnets until 1972, when he began managing the careers of several singers in Quebec.

Dion's mother sent him an audio tape in the mail and encouraged him to listen to her daughter, then 12 years old. He took on her career and launched her first English-language album in 1990.