Celine Dion Breaks Down During Her First Performance Since Husband's Tragic Death — Heartbreaking Pics

Celine, 47, returned to her stage at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas on Feb. 23 — just six weeks after her husband René Angélil lost his years-long battle with cancer.

The first 20 minutes of the show were livestreamed, as were René's memorial services.

The "Because You Loved Me" singer's show opened with a montage tribute to René, who died at 73.

The couple met when Celine was 12, and he was 38. They tied the knot in 2004, and have three sons — René Charles, 15, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy. The slideshow ended with a powerful message acknowledging their life together.

She followed with a heartfelt speech, saying, "René was my very best critic. He never told me what I wanted to hear, he told me what I needed to hear. You know night after night on our way back home from the show when he was so silent, I could sense that he was trying to know how to approach me without hurting my artistic feeling, but there were things that he had to tell me for my own growth. René is the only man that I have known all my life. He always made me feel that we were on our first date, isn’t that amazing? Never talking bluntly, and always impressing himself in a soft and gentle way. We were one. And nothing has changed we will always be one.”

"You know I might not hear his voice yet, but I talk to him. I think of him all the time," she continued. "I feel and I know he hears me. One way or another, I know he will give me a sign, for his approval or not. And now I can feel that he's telling me to zip it and start singing."

The show then went on — but not without Celine's emotions overcoming her.

She burst into tears while singing "All By Myself" as her body trembled.

During her encore she acknowledged her heartache, saying, "I have to tell you, that was definitely the most difficult show that I have done in my whole life."