Celine Dion sang her goodbyes to husband Rene Angelil

We knew in July. Celine Dion was saying goodbye to the love of her life.

Her selection of songs said it all during what had to be one of most difficult nights of her career.

She was back onstage at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, after halting her career for a year to care for her dying husband, Rene Angelil.

July 27, 2015, was one of the most emotional shows in the Strip's history.

Welcomed by a supportive audience that knew the situation, she sang Roberta Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" as a montage of Dion's family flashed on a screen.

The theater filled with loud applause every time Angelil's image appeared.

It was clear early into the show that she was dedicating nearly every song to her husband and father of three sons.

Her voice as strong as ever, she sang Queen's "The Show Must Go On" and "Incredible," a duet with Barnev Valsaint.

The theme and standing ovations continued with "Where Does My Heart Beat Now," "Power of Love," "All By Myself" and, for her encore, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

The phone call I've dreaded for months came Thursday. It was Dion and Angelil's friend Aldo Giampaolo, who became manager when Angelil's health declined.

Angelil, one of most decent people I've had the honor of working with, is truly in a better place now.

"It was so bad," Giampaolo said, "we're glad God came to get him. He lived a hell on Earth for the past year."

Celine's Saturday and Sunday shows are canceled. She returns Feb. 23, as scheduled.

R.I.P., my friend.

Gottlieb eyes UNLV

CBS Sports analyst Doug Gottlieb hasn't given up on the idea of coaching UNLV's men's basketball team.

Five years ago, he made overtures when Lon Kruger left for the Oklahoma job, but Dave Rice got the post.

Gottlieb, a former star point guard at Oklahoma State, told ESPN 1100 he's "absolutely" interested the Rebels' job. Rice was fired Sunday.

He told hosts Mitch Moss and Mike Pritchard he is available "if somebody wanted to talk about it."

Pressed for specifics, he told the "Mitch and Pritch" show he has a "fairly good set plan in place" that could include hiring his brother, Gregg Gottlieb, an assistant at Oregon State, who was part of the "initial building process at San Diego State" from 1999 to 2007. Doug Gottlieb had jaws dropping when said "the biggest issue that Dave (Rice) ran into was he wasn't great with interviews in front of the media."

Gottlieb came off as wildly misinformed on that note. Interviews and media relations were Rice's strengths.

The scene and heard

Vickie's Diner closed Thursday for a five-day makeover by the Food Network's "American Diner Revival" show. Formerly known as Tiffany's Cafe, it was renamed after Vickie Kelesis, who co-owns it with her husband/chef Yanni Kelesis. The reveal will come at 3 p.m. Monday. The 24-7 diner has been a staple for the breakfast and lunch crowd since 1955. Robert Duvall and Drew Barrymore shot a scene from "Lucky You" in 2007 in the middle booth. ...

Actor Mark Ruffalo feared the worse when he was awakened early Thursday by a telephone call at a friend's home in Cold Creek. In the state to testify before a panel on Nevada solar power rates, Ruffalo told KMXB-radio, Mix 94.1, morning deejay Mercedes Martinez said he was dead asleep when his friend awakened him with urgency. "I was like 'What happened? Who got hurt? What's happening?' And he was like, 'No, no, no, your wife is on the phone.' And I was like, 'Oh no! What's happening? And he was like, 'No, it's not bad.' Then my wife got on the phone, and she was cheering and saying, 'Congratulations baby you got a (Oscar) nomination." He was nominated for his role in "Spotlight" as Boston Globe reporter Michael Rezendes, who helped break the story about an unfrocked priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys.

Sightings

Alicia Vikander, in town to film the "Bourne" sequel with Matt Damon, attended "O" at Bellagio on Wednesday. She was nominated Thursday for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in "The Danish Girl."… Sarah Thomas, the NFL's first full-time female referee, with friends at La Comida on Wednesday. She was in town for the pharmaceutical sales convention.

The punch line

"The 84-year-old media mogul Rupert Murdoch this week proposed to 59-year-old former model Jerry Hall. Hall said yes because she didn't feel like standing in line for Powerball tickets." — Seth Meyers

— Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. On Twitter: @Norm_Clarke