One of the most enduring debates of Celine Dion’s career is simply a matter of taste as to whether someone enjoys her distinct voice or not, but in 2023, a new controversial Celine Dion moment caused fans to protest in the streets after what many fans perceived to be a major snub of the singer.
Because if Dion or her critics needed any more proof that she has one of the most powerful voices of all time, having your fans picket in the streets is certainly a good indication of the scope of your talent.
Videos by American Songwriter
The Celine Dion Controversy That Led To Fan Protests
Rolling Stone has released “best of” and “greatest singer songs, etc.” lists for decades. Depending on how your tastes compare to the writers of the music and culture magazine, you might consider their lists to be right on the money or woefully misled. The magazine’s “200 Greatest Singers of All Time” list they released on the first day of 2023 was certainly no exception. The list spanned countless genres and decades, including stars like Billie Eilish, Roy Orbison, and the No. 1 winner, Aretha Franklin.
Notably absent from this list, however, was none other than Canadian-born powerhouse balladeer Celine Dion. Dion’s fans not only noticed the exclusion. They took to the streets over it.
A group of devoted Celine Dion fans called the Red Heads appeared on the street in front of Rolling Stone’s New York City headquarters with quippy signs like, “Rolling Stone is stoned” and “How can you forget Celine?” As their signs suggested, the magazine’s exclusion of the “My Heart Will Go On” singer baffled and angered her biggest fans.
The Dion Picket Line Wasn’t The Only One Happening That Day
Interestingly, the Celine Dion protest wasn’t the only picket line forming in the area on January 6, 2023. At the same time the Red Heads were gathering outside of Rolling Stone HQ, a group of political protesters were nearby at the New York Library. The library picketers demanded Attorney General Merrick Garland indict individuals who participated in the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
“It’s very important, the other protest,” French Canadian broadcaster and Rolling Stone picketer Julie Snyder told the magazine. “We believe in the other protest. But we think also we can protest with our heart and our song and that song can help people to get better. But you work for the music industry, even if it’s a sad day today for you guys.”
Snyder said the Dion protestor’s ultimate goal was to force Rolling Stone into admitting they made a mistake when they excluded Dion from their “Greatest Singers of All Time” list. Unfortunately for Dion’s fans, they didn’t. In fact, they doubled down, writing, “In this publication’s defense, however, we are nothing if not consistent: Dion didn’t appear on our initial 2018 list of the “100 Greatest Singers.” Somewhat sarcastically, the magazine added: “Though, the mononymous Sixties crooner Dion did (and he made the cut the second time around at Number 154).”
The magazine’s glib comments might’ve made Dion’s fans feel all by themselves (sorry, we had to), but at least the Canadian singer knows her devoted admirers are willing to take to the streets in her defense.
Photo by Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock