Many of Celine Dion's fans were shocked to hear that she is taking a hiatus from show business for an indefinite amount of time. Last week the Canadian star vowed to leave her singing career behind so she can care for her Cancer-stricken husband, René Angélil.

Celine Dion
Dion has taken a break from showbiz to care for her cancer-stricken husband

The 46 year-old singer has cancelled her upcoming Las Vegas show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and her extensive tour of Asia which was originally scheduled to begin in the fall of this year, but the people who expected this decision were Dion's close friends.

"They are each other's lives," Dion's pal Robin Leach recently told People Magazine about the married couple, who are parents to three children, René Charles, 13, and fraternal twins Eddy and Nelson, 3. "He and her family come first and she's always made that clear."

More: Celine Dion Death Hoax: Singer Isn't Dead After Facebook App Claims

Angélil underwent surgery this past December (2013) to remove a cancerous tumour from his throat, and Dion has also been battling an illness that has caused inflammation on her throat muscles, meaning that she hasn't performed any of her Las Vegas shows since July 29th.

"René was making great progress and was out and about," Leach continued, adding that his recovery still has a long way to go. "Last time I saw him, he was very thin and frail, Céline had to take a step back, and her decision is a realization that you have to hold onto everything while you've got it."

More: Celine Dion Wanted To Bounce Back From Album Disappointment With New Single And 'The Voice' Appearance

However, their family are "trying to stay positive" about Angélil's prognosis, and are "optimistic" that he will fully recover. Since her announcement, there has been no timeline to suggest when Dion will return to her singing career.