AMAs: Celine Dion Pays Tribute To Paris Attack Victims With Moving Performance

This year’s American Music
Awards honored the Paris terrorist attack victims with the help of an
unmistakable voice – Celine Dion.

The French-Canadian
vocalist took the stage at Sunday’s show to sing the classic Edith Piaf song “Hymne
a l’amour” in her native tongue.

Introduced by presenter Jared Leto as “one of the world’s great voices,” Celine’s performance transcended language as iconic images of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and other Parisian landmarks bearing France’s national colors played behind her on the Microsoft Theater stage.

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Audience
members were visibly moved, with many seen wiping away tears during the
powerful number.

Leto delivered an emotional
message of his own, recalling how his band played the Bataclan concert hall in
the French capital last year. More than 80 people were gunned down at the venue
in the Nov. 13 massacre.  

WATCH: Madonna Honors Paris Victims With Emotional Speech, Performs ‘Like A Prayer’

With a moving speech, @JaredLeto introduces a very special #AMAs performance by @celinedion. https://t.co/Q4CRvbav5v

— American Music Awards (@AMAs) November 23, 2015

Despite
the somber atmosphere, the Oscar winner conveyed his hope for the future.

“France matters,” he
told the crowd. “Russia matters. Syria matters. Mali matters. The United
States matters. The entire world matters and peace is possible.”

— Erin Biglow