Album: Courage – Céline Dion (2019)
In the fall of 2019, Céline Dion released Courage — her twelfth English-language studio album — and with it, she opened a new chapter of her life. It was her first major project following the passing of her husband, René Angélil, and it marked more than just a return to music. It was a return to herself.
Courage was released on November 15, 2019, and immediately resonated with fans around the world. But what set this album apart wasn’t just the production or the vocals — though both are stunning. What truly defined Courage was the emotion behind it: raw, reflective, and remarkably human.
For many fans, Céline Dion had always been a voice of strength — someone who could take heartache and turn it into harmony. But on this album, we didn’t just hear her strength. We heard her vulnerability. Her uncertainty. Her quiet bravery in the face of enormous change.
The album opens with its title track, “Courage”, a soaring ballad that lays everything bare. In it, she sings not only about the pain of loss, but about the will to keep going when the future feels empty. “I would be lying if I said I’m fine,” she admits. It’s honest. It’s unfiltered. And it’s the kind of lyric only someone who has truly lived — and lost — can deliver with such grace.
Across the album’s 20 tracks, Céline explores a wide emotional landscape. There are love songs (“Imperfections,” “Say Yes,”), breakup anthems (“Lovers Never Die,” “Look at Us Now”), and intimate confessions (“The Chase,” “Change My Mind”). Each song, whether stripped down or produced with pop sensibilities, carries something of her — a woman no longer singing from a fairytale pedestal, but from a place of lived experience.
What’s especially striking is how the album blends Céline’s classic ballad style with more modern, experimental sounds. Songs like “Flying On My Own” offer uplifting energy and bold production, signaling her willingness to step into new sonic territory — even after decades in the industry. It’s as if she’s saying: “I’m not done. I’m still growing. I’m still moving forward.”
Courage debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200, making Céline the first female artist to top the chart in each of the last three decades. But numbers only tell part of the story. What the album truly represented was a woman stepping back into the light — on her own terms, and with no need to prove anything.
It was also the launchpad for what would become the Courage World Tour — her first tour in over a decade. Though the tour was later interrupted by the pandemic and Céline’s health challenges, its early shows were filled with warmth, humor, and standing ovations. Fans weren’t just cheering for the music. They were cheering for her.
Today, as Céline Dion continues to battle Stiff Person Syndrome, the songs of Courage take on even deeper meaning. They serve as a reminder of what she’s already overcome — and of the strength she continues to carry.
This album isn’t just a collection of songs. It’s a portrait of survival. A love letter to resilience. And most of all, a message to anyone facing the unthinkable: You’re not alone. There is still courage to be found.
Not in the absence of fear — but in the choice to sing anyway.