Céline Dion got emotional during her first performance in Las Vegas since the tragic shooting that left 59 people dead and over 500 injured on Sunday night at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
“Before we start the show, I need to talk to you for a minute,” the 49-year-old songstress told the crowd at Caesars Palace on Tuesday night.
“I never start the show like this, standing in front of the curtain just talking, but tonight is very different. After Sunday night’s incredibly tragic event, all of us here find ourselves asking a similar question. For you it’s, ‘Do we still go to Céline’s show on Tuesday night, only two days after the nightmare?’ For me it’s, ‘Can I still do my show? Should I still do my show only two days after the nightmare?'”
She continued, “These are difficult questions, but I want you to know that you have made the right choice in being here tonight and the reason that I decided to do the show so soon is more than to just sing. It is to show love and support for those who are affected.
“On Sunday we lost too many beautiful, innocent souls, and so many are still suffering, but tonight we’re going to let these families know that we are supporting them and that we will help them through their tragic loss. They are going to need a lot of love, a ton of emotional support, as well as a great deal of financial aid. So I want you to know that the proceeds for tonight’s show are being donated to the victims’ families on your behalf.”
The audience gave Dion a standing ovation, before she added that she’s dedicating the Tuesday night performance to the victims, their families, doctors, nurses, and first responders who “are working around the clock to save lives.”
“Thank you so much for being here tonight,” she said before beginning the show.
Despite Dion’s choice to perform, Jennifer Lopez decided to postpone her residency this week out of respect to victims and families of the massacre.