Artists telling politicians to stop using their music at campaign events is nothing new, and as of August 10, 2024, Celine Dion has added her name to the list with her response to Donald Trump’s use of her iconic Titanic track. This isn’t the first time Dion has refused to associate herself with the former president, but this time, her team’s response on social media was particularly tongue-in-cheek.
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And as always, the internet had plenty to say about it.
Celine Dion’s Response to Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, held a campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana, on August 9, 2024. As the crowd anxiously waited for the presidential hopeful to arrive onstage, a large screen played a video of Celine Dion performing her mega-hit, “My Heart Will Go On,” from the 1997 film Titanic.
Celine Dion’s team responded the following day. “Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign rally in Montana. In no way is this use authorized.”
“Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the statement continued. Then, to hammer their point home, they added an incredulous closing line: “…And really, THAT song?”
The Singer Has Previously Pushed Back Against Trump
This isn’t the first time that Donald Trump has used Celine Dion’s smash hit at a campaign rally, but it appears that the August 2024 instance is the first time the singer’s team commented on it. Still, Dion has made her feelings toward Trump known before. In December 2016, the Canadian singer famously turned down a request to perform at Trump’s inauguration the following month.
Meanwhile, Trump seems to be a big fan of Dion’s, playing her music not only at political events but also at parties at his Floridian estate, Mar-a-Lago. During the FBI seizure of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, officials found several photographs of Dion, among other papers, clothing, and other items.
The internet’s response to Celine Dion’s comment makes this unrequited appreciation even more awkward. Some fans condemned Dion for speaking out against Trump, saying that she alienated her more conservative fans. Meanwhile, others have made sardonic comparisons between Trump’s presidential campaign and the film about a sinking ship that used Dion’s iconic ballad.
Divided online opinions aside, Dion is hardly the first musician to ask Trump to stop using their music for his political events. Other notable artists include Tom Petty, Neil Young, The Smiths, Elton John, Adele, Aerosmith, George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen…if you’ll forgive our Celine Dion pun, one could say that the list goes oooon and on.
Photo by Guibbaud Christophe/ABACA/Shutterstock
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