Celine Dion Wants a ‘Partner in Her Life Again’ 10 Years After Losing Husband Rene Angelil

Celine Dion‘s triumphant return to the stage has given her a whole new lease on life amid her battle with stiff person syndrome, a source tells Closer, with finding love next on her to-do list.

The “My Heart Will Go On” singer, 58, lost her beloved husband and manager, René Angélil, to cancer in 2016. The couple were married for 22 years and welcomed three sons together, René-Charles, 25, and 15-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson.

“No one is ever going to replace René, but she says she knows in her heart he would not want her to be alone, that he’d want her to find happiness again,” reveals the source. “Her boys want this for her as well, which makes it a whole lot easier on her.”

It’s been a decade since the family lost Angélil “and in some ways, it doesn’t feel nearly that long and in other ways, it feels like a lifetime,” the source admits. “Celine says she can’t ever imagine loving someone as much as she loved René, but she does want to have a partner in her life again.”

When it comes to what Dion looks for in a partner, “music is so important to her,” notes the source. “Ideally, she would love to meet someone who at least plays an instrument, so they can have that shared passion, but it’s not a deal breaker.”

More importantly, “she wants a man who she can have good conversations with, someone who’s kind and, of course, someone that gets along with her boys,” the source says. “If her kids don’t like him, he won’t last. That’s a guarantee.”