Céline Dion’s team has criticized former US President Donald Trump for the “unauthorized” use of a clip from one of her hits at a presidential campaign event.
The song “My Heart Will Go On” – which was featured in a 1997 film about the doomed ship Titanic – was played to his supporters before Trump took the stage at a rally in Bozeman, Montana on Friday.
In a statement posted on X, Dion’s team said she did not “approve” of the use of the song, adding: “And really, this song?”
Artists and bands such as Neil Young, Queen and the Rolling Stones had previously complained about Mr Trump using their songs at campaign events.
The statement reads: “Today, Céline Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized use of the video, recording, musical performance and image of Céline Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign rally in Montana.
“This use is in no way authorized and Céline Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.
“…And really, this song?”
The Trump team did not respond to the statement.
“My Heart Will Go On” is one of the most famous songs by five-time Grammy winner Dion.
The Oscar-winning ballad was featured on the soundtrack of the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as two lovers who meet on the doomed ship’s maiden voyage in 1912.
Dion made a triumphant return to live singing at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games last month.
It was her first appearance since she announced in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome (SPS).
SPS is a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle spasms and can be debilitating.
The singer spoke about her struggle with the drug in a film called “I Am: Celine Dion,” which was the most successful documentary of all time last month, according to Amazon Prime Video.
Canadian artist Neil Young had also previously objected to Trump’s use of his songs, and in 2020, the Rolling Stones threatened him with legal action after the song You Can’t Always Get What You Want was played at a political rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne sent Trump a message prohibiting him from using Black Sabbath music in campaign videos in 2019.
The Republican Party’s presidential candidate is not the only politician criticized by artists for using songs at campaign events.
Last year, rapper Eminem called on Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to stop using his songs.
Bruce Springsteen sharply criticized President Reagan for his intention to use “Born in the USA” for his 1984 election campaign.
Fatboy Slim strongly condemned the British Labour Party for using his hit song “Right Here, Right Now” at their party conference in 2004 – a year after the Iraq War.
Legally, US politicians do not always need direct permission from artists.
Your campaigns can purchase licensing packages from music rights organizations that give them legal access to over 20 million songs.
However, artists have the right to remove their music from this list.
