Celine Dion Performs French Tribute At 2015 American Music Awards Following Terrorist Attacks

On a night honoring the year's best in American pop music, one of the most powerful moments of the 2015 American Music Awards in Los Angeles Sunday came when Celine Dion took the stage to pay tribute to all affected by the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. Dion performed Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à L’Amour” in French to a standing audience with tears in their eyes.

Before Dion even began, the crowd was already on its feet. Actor Jared Leto gave her a powerful introduction, saying that peace in the world is possible before turning the stage over to Dion. The 47-year-old sang her heart out on stage, while images of France flashed on a screen behind her.

Dion is a French Canadian from Quebec. Many of her songs are recorded in English and French, and she’s the bestselling Canadian artist in history with more than 200 million records worldwide.

The “My Heart Will Go On” singer dedicated her shows on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 to the victims of the terrorist attacks in France. On Friday, ABC announced Dion would perform “Hymne à L’Amour" at the 2015 AMAs. American Music Awards producer Larry Klein said, “We felt it was important to show our solidarity in light of the recent events in Paris and all around world.”

Watch Dion’s full performance below: