Following Donald Trump‘s campaign rally in Montana on Friday, French Canadian singer Celine Dion denounced it on Saturday for playing her award-winning song from the Titanic soundtrack, “My Heart Will Go On.”
The former president’s visit to Montana marks his first rally in a week that has seen the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz make multiple campaign stops in swing states amid this year’s election. It also follows Trump’s press conference that he held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Videos of the song being played at the former president’s rally on Friday have made its way across X, formerly Twitter.
As supporters waited for Trump, the GOP’s presidential nominee, to speak at the rally, the crowd can be seen listening to “My Heart Will Go On,” which brought Dion Grammy awards, an Oscar and a Golden Globe, as a video of her performing the song was displayed on a big screen above the stage.
Trump has used Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” at his rally.
This was likely not approved by Celine Dion.
— Mr. Pop (@MrPopOfficial) August 10, 2024
In a statement posted to X, Dion and her team acknowledged the use of her song at Trump’s rally and denounced it.
“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,” Dion wrote.”And really, THAT song?”
Newsweek has reached out to Trump’s campaign via email for comment.
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… pic.twitter.com/28CYLFvgER
— Celine Dion (@celinedion) August 10, 2024
The song, written by composer James Horner, was created for the film adaptation Titanic, which follows the tragic love story of Jack and Rose on the Titanic, a British ocean liner that sank in 1912 as a result of striking an iceberg.
The song became a classic in Dion’s repertoire after the film’s success when it was released in 1997.
Dion previously spoke on what the song meant to her when she played the song at the Billboard Music Awards in 2017, marking the film’s 20th anniversary.
“This song means a lot to me, and it has played such a huge role in my career,” she said. “I’m so grateful to the late James Horner, and to Will Jennings, for writing it and creating the opportunity for me to be part of Titanic, an amazing film whose legacy will continue for generations to come.”
This is not the first time artists have objected to their songs being played at Trump’s rallies.
In 2023, the disco group Village People sent Trump a cease-and-desist letter contesting a recent performance of one of their songs, “Macho Man,” at Mar-a-Lago. In the letter sent by band manager Karen Willis, the Village People alleged Trump “allowed a group of individuals dressed as Village People” to perform that song and others. Videos of the performance began spreading on social media, leading some to “mistakenly believe” that the group itself performed at the event, the letter said.
Village People alleged the “imitation performance” violated U.S. trademark law and asked Trump’s campaign to stop using the band’s image moving forward. If the campaign did not oblige, the band said it would pursue legal action.
Several other artists have also previously objected to Trump’s use of their music including Neil Young, Adele, Rihanna and Elton John who asked Trump during his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns to stop playing their music at campaign events. Some objected because their political views opposed those held by Trump; others said their music simply had no place in American politics.
However, Trump recently had a wave of public figures show their support for his reelection campaign during the Republican National Convention (RNC) last month. Model and rapper Amber Rose gave a passionate speech endorsing Trump on the first day of the convention, and singer and rapper Kid Rock performed his hit “American Bad Ass” before the former president gave his keynote address on the last day of the event.
Since joining the Democratic race following President Joe Biden stepping down last month, Harris has continued to galvanize support including a featured performance by rapper Megan Thee Stallion at a rally in Georgia late last month.
Megan Thee Stallion joins a host of musicians who have recently come out in support of Harris as she has also earned endorsements from several pop-culture stars, including British artist Charli XCX, whose latest album brat has become a branding tool for the vice president’s campaign.
