One of the best ways to really get to learn about a celebrity is to watch them in action when they are 鈥渙ff stage.鈥�
Such was certainly the case with Celine Dion. We arrived to interview the star outside Montreal at the conclusion of a music video shoot. I watched the shoot; I watched her.
It was a long and demanding shoot for Celine. There were at least 100 people involved and watching how she interacted with them was an eye opener. Celine was patient, kind, self-deprecating and indeed funny. Even when nerves were frayed, as can happen with long days, her professionalism and generous nature shone through. I must admit, I was inspired to see that degree of genuine warmth she shared with every member of the crew.
鈥淚 still love what I do because otherwise I would not spend so much time doing it. It鈥檚 too much time consuming to not be happy doing it,鈥� she told me in our interview. 鈥淚t鈥檚 either I鈥檓 here 100 per cent knowing that my family is very safe and sound and they鈥檙e in good hands. But when I鈥檓 home I鈥檓 as intense, but as a mom and nobody can reach me. No business talk.鈥�
Celine is now in her second run in Las Vegas, a show that is more intimate and showcases her vocal talents. Her first stint ran five years and reinvented the Vegas entertainment experience, using dozens of dancers, hundreds of costume changes and provided a Celine-Cirque de Soleil experience.
Throughout it all Celine has also shared her life -- its ups and downs -- with her fans.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a decision you make. Either you鈥檙e transparent or you鈥檙e not. I鈥檝e decided to be an open book all my life. I grew up in a big family who we were sharing in music and stage and performance,鈥� she said. 鈥淥nce you鈥檙e a performer -- I mean, I鈥檓 talking for myself -- a lot of people are, even if they鈥檙e performers they want to try to keep their lives private. But, for me, I think it helped me a lot to share everything with the fans.鈥�
I knew she was a superstar on stage, I know she鈥檚 a superstar within.
Shania rides into Vegas
I can draw so many similarities between Shania and Celine with regard to success but what stands out the most is how very different their lives have been. As Celine said in our interview, she is an 鈥渙pen book.鈥� Shania is intensely private, and has indeed fought to protect what privacy she could find, moving to Switzerland to escape the prying eyes and cameras and the price for celebrity.
鈥淒efinitely. I think that, I cannot speak for other celebrities, but I would say that there鈥檚 certainly been a price to pay in my life for celebrity for sure. I mean, it鈥檚 so much, so fast,鈥� Shania told me. 鈥淐elebrity is something that is a really giant, big thing that you can鈥檛 even imagine until you鈥檙e in it.鈥�
I have interviewed Shania a few times and was always aware that she is not only private but shy.
Shania had arrived to adoring fans in Vegas on horseback. Shania, the performer was on her game. I didn鈥檛 expect that assurance later in our interview but a confident, indeed happy Shania showed up and rocked the interview. She was unexpectedly candid, and chatty. This star has come out from under the tribulations of the divorce from her former husband and manager, Mutt Lange, and has come into her own, taking control of her show and her life.
鈥淚鈥檓 hands on, everything from what we鈥檙e wearing to the size of the -- I don鈥檛 want to give, well, I can give things away,鈥� she said, debating with herself about how much to reveal about her new show, Shania: Still The One. 鈥淣o, I鈥檓 hands on. The show really is, it鈥檚 an entire Shania experience in every way鈥�
Shania wanted her fans to be the first to find out. She doesn鈥檛 want anyone outside of her team to hear her sing, until she takes to the stage at Caesar鈥檚 Palace in Las Vegas Saturday night.
As we talked, her husband Fred watched from the hall and was overheard to say, 鈥淟et the interview go longer, Shania is enjoying herself.鈥�
Shania is indeed enjoying herself, enjoying her marriage, her comeback, and her life once again. She is Still The One.
