HARD TIMES FOR CELINE DION WHO LOST HER HUSBAND TO CANCER WHILE HER BROTHER NOW HAS FEW HOURS TO LIVE DUE TO SAME AILMENT.

RENE & CELINE

 Celine Dion is facing more heartbreak after the death of her husband René Angélil on Thursday.

The singer's older brother Daniel is also battling cancer, and his family believe he has just hours or days to live. 

Celine's sister Claudette told Journal Of Montreal: 'It's very painful. It's a matter of days or hours. It looks a lot like René, he had cancer of the throat, tongue and brain. Our family is very experienced.'

Daniel, who is 59, is in hospital in Celine's native Montreal and surrounded by family, including 88-year-old mother Therese.

DANIEL

Members of the family gathered at Daniel's bedside on Thursday after being told that he is 'dying'.

Claudette added to Journal Of Montreal: 'We are with Daniel, day and night. He is 59 years old, very young to be the end of life.' Celine, 47, is the youngest of 14 children. 

The My Heart Will Go On singer's rep confirmed the sad news about her brother's illness.

René was 73 when he passed away on Thursday, just two days before his 74th birthday and one month after the couple's 21st wedding anniversary. 

Grieving Celine promptly cancelled her January 16 and January 17 performances at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, where she is currently taking part in a residency. 

The star will resume performances on February 23, but she announced on Facebook on Friday that s he'll host a celebration of his life at the Las Vegas Colosseum on February 3.

A spokesperson for AEG said in a statement: 'We are heartbroken to hear this news, not only because René was a great friend and mentor and an extraordinary partner with us in these shows at Caesars Palace for the last 13 years, but even more because he and Celine were so devoted to each other; their relationship has been a model for us all.' 

René was Celine's manager before they got together. They first met when she was 12 and he was 38, and began dating seven years later. 

Angélil's funeral will take place on January 23 at Notre-Dame Basilica in his hometown of Montreal - the same cathedral where the couple wed in 1994. A public viewing will be held the day before.

They are parents to three sons: René-Charles, who turns 15 later this month (and was baptised at Notre-Dame Basilica), and five-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson.

René was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and battled three bouts of cancer before his death on Thursday. In September, Celine revealed he had just 'months to live'.

Announcing the devastating news of his passing in a statement, Celine's team said: 'René Angélil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer. 

'The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment; more details will be provided at a later time.'

Mariah Carey paid tribute to René with a Facebook post on Friday, sharing a sweet black and white photo of Celine and her husband.

She wrote: 'Dear Celine, I'm heartbroken for you and your family upon hearing the devasting [sic] news about Rene.

'I know there's nothing I can say to take the pain away but I'm sure the memories will comfort you now and always. My deepest condolences to you and your family. Love always, Mariah.' 

DailyMail