"Really, that song?": Celine Dion condemns Trump use of Titanic song

Celine Dion's team has denounced former US President Donald Trump for the "unauthorised" use of a clip of one of her hits at a campaign rally.

The song, 'My Heart Will Go On', which featured in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic, was played to supporters before Trump appeared on stage at a rally in Bozeman, Montana, on Friday.

In a statement released on X, Dion's team said she did not "endorse" the use of the song, adding: "And really, that song?"

Artists and bands, including Neil Young, Queen and the Rolling Stones have previously complained about the former president using their songs at campaign rallies.

The statement read: "Today, Celine Dion's management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, became aware of the unauthorised 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 authorised, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.

"...And really, that song?"

The Trump campaign has not responded to the statement.

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

'My Heart Will Go On' is one of Dion's best-known songs. The Oscar-winning ballad featured prominently on the soundtrack of the 1997 film Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as two lovers who meet on the doomed ship' maiden voyage in April 1912.

Dion made a triumphant return to live singing last month at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. It was her first performance since revealing she had been diagnosed Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022. SPS is a rare neurological disorder that causes muscles to spasm and can be debilitating.

The five-time Grammy winner discussed her struggles with SPS in a film called I Am: Celine Dion, which Amazon Prime Video said last month had become its most successful documentary ever.

The Canadian rocker Neil Young has also previously objected to Trump using 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 a notice to Trump banning him from using Black Sabbath music in campaign videos in 2019.

The Republican Party's presidential candidate is not the only politician to receive criticism from artists over the use of songs during campaign rallies.

Just last year, rapper Eminem implored aspiring Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to stop using his songs.

Bruce Springsteen castigated President Ronald Reagan for planning to use 'Born in the USA' for his 1984 election campaign.

Legally, US politicians do not always need direct permission from artists. Their campaigns can buy licensing packages from music rights organisations giving them legal access to more than 20 million songs.

However, artists have the right to remove their music from that list.