Celine Dion‘s heart will definitely go on for Kelly Clarkson.
Following the Kelly Clarkson Show host’s powerful Kellyoke cover of the icon’s classic Titanic ballad “My Heart Will Go On,” Dion shared a tearful reaction to the tribute in a video posted to social media on Tuesday (Oct. 8).
“I just saw you singing ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ and I’m crying again,” the Canadian superstar says in the clip, wiping away tears. “You were absolutely incredible, fantastic. I loved it so much. I hope we can see each other in person soon.”
Dion also thanked Clarkson for her support during the 2024 Olympics, which saw the former making a triumphant return to the stage in July after privately battling a rare and debilitating neurological illness called Stiff Person Syndrome. After Dion nailed the final notes of a glorious cover of Édith Piaf’s “Hymne A L’Amour” during the Paris Games’ opening ceremony, NBC’s broadcast cut to the American Idol alum, who served as one of this year’s commentators.
“If you know anything about Celine right now, she feels this is her purpose … and if you know anything about what she’s going through right now — I’m so sorry, I’m trying to hold it together right now,” Clarkson said at the time, getting choked up. “But then she got through that. That was incredible. In my field, she is the gold winner for vocal athletes.”
A little over three months later, Dion is recognizing the “Stronger” singer for her kind words. “Kelly, when I came back from the Olympics, I got to watch and listen to your reaction to my performance on the Eiffel Tower,” Dion says in the new video. “It was so sweet to hear you. Your voice was breaking and it touched me so tremendously. You were crying, and then you made me start crying. What’s up with all this frickin’ crying?”
Dion’s praise is undoubtedly meaningful to Clarkson, especially considering what the latter said of “My Heart Will Go On” shortly after performing it on The Kelly Clarkson Show: “Usually I would never cover that song because there’s some songs you don’t want to go near as a vocalist.”
See Dion’s reaction to Clarkson’s rendition of “My Heart Will Go On” below.