Celine Dion hits the road for world tour

02/12/2008 9:00 PM, AP


Celine Dion is a musician, wife, mother and friend.

Viewers can get a glimpse of each in "Celine Dion: That's the Woman in Me." Debuting Friday, the hour-long CBS concert special comes on the heels of Dion's five-year stint in Las Vegas, the release of her first all-new English-language studio album in three years, "Taking Chances," and the start of a world tour.

"Las Vegas was such an amazing journey, but I was away from the industry for five years," Dion told Associated Press Television News in a January interview after filming "Woman" in a downtown auditorium.

It appears Dion is making up for lost time.

"For me to come back with a new album, introducing it through a TV special just before hitting the road again ... It never stops," said Dion.

Nor, it appears, does the 39-year-old who sprints through many of her biggest hits in the special, including a duet with singer and longtime pal Josh Groban, and another with Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh.

She also dips into hip hop with Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am. While singing with him, she displays some smooth dance moves that appear to have been picked up in Las Vegas.

"I've always loved dancing very much ... But I think, with time, you feel more secure about yourself," she said. "When you mature, you just want to enjoy, you don't feel like proving to yourself."

The Canadian Dion, her husband-manager Ren Angelil and their 7-year-old son are on the road and will be most of the year.

On Thursday, Dion was scheduled to open her tour in Johannesburg, South Africa, following a promise she made to former President Nelson Mandela to perform there. Other destinations include Japan, China, Korea and the United Kingdom.

Dion said concertgoers should expect surprises.

"I'm keeping the best," said Dion. "In my 20s, I showed certain things. In my 30s, I showed others. I'm going to be 40 years of age. I tell you, you better buckle up!"