Celine Dion Criticizes Trump for Using Her Titanic Song at Rally

Celine Dion has expressed her disapproval and amusement at Donald Trump and JD Vance for using her Oscar-winning song from “Titanic” at a recent rally. On Friday, August 9th, before the presidential candidate’s appearance on stage in Bozeman, Montana, Republican attendees watched a clip of Dion performing her 1997 hit “My Heart Will Go On” on a large screen.

Dion’s management team and record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, quickly released a statement on behalf of the singer. They made it clear that the use of the song was completely unauthorized. The statement appeared on Dion’s social media pages the next day, stating, “Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana. In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.”

Adding a touch of humor, the statement also mocked the campaign’s choice of song, noting the irony of picking a hit from a film about a sinking ship: “… And really, THAT song?” The decision to use the song was widely derided on social media after clips from the rally began to circulate. Many pointed out the irony, especially given that Kamala Harris appeared to be pulling ahead of Trump in the polls for the first time.

A recent survey showed Harris taking a three-point lead over Trump. The song’s use came just a day after Trump held a press conference filled with controversial claims. One Twitter user quipped, “Wait, did Celine Dion give Trump permission to use her Titanic song? It is rather fitting since his campaign is sinking,” while another added, “This is so on the nose to what’s happening with his campaign, the cognitive dissonance is astounding.” Another person wrote, “I can’t help but laugh. It perfectly fits the analogy that the Trump campaign is a sinking ship.”

Dion had previously refused to perform at Trump’s inauguration when he was elected president in 2016, but Trump has used “My Heart Will Go On” at his rallies before, including in November 2020, right before losing the election to Joe Biden. His campaign has a history of using songs without acquiring rights. In January 2024, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr reacted with disbelief to footage of the band’s 1984 song “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” being played at a Trump rally.

In July 2020, the family of the late Tom Petty also issued a statement objecting to Trump’s use of the song “I Won’t Back Down” in his campaign. Trump had played the 1989 hit at his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but Petty’s estate insisted he was not authorized to use it. In their statement, the family said Trump’s campaign “leaves too many Americans and common sense behind.” They added, “Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind. Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together.”

The following month, Neil Young sued Trump for copyright infringement over the use of two of his songs in what the artist described as a “campaign of ignorance and hate.”

Source: Independent