Celine Dion puts career on hold 'indefinitely'

Celine Dion apologised to her fans for 'inconveniencing them'

Singer Celine Dion has put her career on hold "indefinitely" for health and family reasons.

The 46-year-old said on her website she was cancelling all performances to focus on her health, her husband's health and their children.

Her Las Vegas shows up until March have all been cancelled, as well as her planned tour of Asia this autumn.

Dion's manager-husband, Rene Angelil, had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in December.

The singer is also still recovering from an illness that inflamed her throat muscles and has not been able to perform any of her scheduled Las Vegas shows since 19 July.

A statement on Dion's website said she had made the decision "in order to focus 100% of her attention" on her husband and family.

It added it had been a "very difficult and stressful time for the couple as they deal with the day-to-day challenges of fighting this disease while trying to juggle a very active showbusiness schedule, and raise their three young children".

Dion previously took a break from showbiz for two years from 2000 - 2002 to care for her husband

Dion said: "I want to devote every ounce of my strength and energy to my husband's healing, and to do so, it's important for me to dedicate this time to him and to our children."

"I also want to apologise to all my fans everywhere, for inconveniencing them, and I thank them so much for their love and support."

Fans who bought tickets for future shows will be eligible for refunds.

Dion previously took a two-year hiatus from 2000 - 2002 to help care for her husband when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Soon after, she gave birth to her first child.

She has been a regular performer at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which began with a near five-year residency from 2003 to 2007.

Her current residency began in 2011 and, although it was originally billed as a three-year event, was last year extended through to 2019.