Cultural impact of Celine Dion

Canadian singer Celine Dion has made a significant impact on popular culture through her music, commercial achievements and performances. At age twelve, she pursued a music career as a Francophone artist with the release of her debut single in 1981 and first gained international recognition after winning the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. Following the release of her English-language debut album in 1990, Dion steadily amassed fame, success and public interest throughout her career spanning four decades.

Widely considered one of the greatest vocalists in music history, Dion is credited for inspiring generations of performers with her vocal talent and has influenced numerous musical artist with her catalog. She has pushed the boundaries of Francophone music around the world and has been credited with redefining Las Vegas residencies, paving the way for artists that came after such as Britney Spears and Adele. VH1 named her one of the greatest pop culture icons while Rolling Stone ranked her the tenth greatest Canadian artist of all time. Her commercial success have impacted the increase of sales and income of record companies, and the music industry in general throughout the 1990s, drawing comparisons from critics with pop stars such as Michael Jackson and Madonna.

In popular culture, Dion has been a subject of drag, parody, and impersonation, while her life and career has been adapted in a number of biographical films and musicals. A polarizing figure, several publications have centered analysis about her career and has received considerable criticisms for her music and business ventures. Regardless, she has been recognized by several organizations for her musical impact. Her album Falling into You was ranked by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, in conjunction with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, at number 97 on its list of the Definitive 200 Albums of All Time, while her signature song, My Heart Will Go On, was included in "Songs of the Century" list by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.