The Let's Talk About Love World Tour was the ninth concert tour by Canadian singer Celine Dion, launched in support of her fifth English‑language studio album, Let's Talk About Love (1997). The tour began in Boston, United States, on 21 August 1998 and concluded in Montreal, Canada, on 31 December 1999. Spanning 97 performances across North America, Europe, and Asia, it became the highest‑grossing tour by a female artist of the 1990s, earning an estimated $133 million. In North America, it was the top‑grossing tour by a female artist in 1998 with $38.1 million in revenue, and the fourth highest‑grossing in 1999 with an additional $26.9 million. The tour also included two sold‑out concerts at the Stade de France in Paris, attended by more than 180,000 people. It received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Dion's vocal performance. At the 1998 Pollstar Awards, it earned nominations for Major Tour of the Year and Most Creative Stage Production.
Background Following her win at the 25th American Music Awards, Dion announced plans for a new tour beginning in the summer of 1998. Early preview concerts in Melbourne and Honolulu included a setlist based on the Falling into You: Around the World tour, with the addition of "The Reason" and "My Heart Will Go On". The tour was officially announced in February 1998 and scheduled to open on 21 August in Boston.
The tour received regional sponsorships from Procter & Gamble in Canada, Avon in Europe, and Ericsson in the United States. Dion also inaugurated the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida, performing for nearly 20,000 attendees.
Dion stated that the setlist would include songs from her then‑current album, earlier hits, and several French‑language selections.
As the tour extended into 1999, Dion performed in Asia and additional North American cities. After her husband René Angélil was diagnosed with throat cancer, she postponed the remaining North American dates and cancelled part of the European leg, later resuming the tour in June 1999. After the European shows, Dion announced a New Year's Eve event in Montreal. The Millennium Concert introduced a revised setlist and guest performances by Canadian artists.
In October 1999, Dion opened the new Pepsi Center in Denver, dedicating the concert to victims of the Columbine High School massacre and donating all proceeds to the Colorado Organization of Victim Assistance. She later stated that this would be her final tour before taking a break to start a family.
About the stage The tour introduced a new staging concept for Dion, as the show was presented in the round. Stage designer Yves Aucoin explained that he aimed to create a large-scale production while preserving a sense of intimacy. The heart-shaped stage incorporated five circular platforms capable of raising and lowering performers. It was constructed by Scène Éthique. Above the stage, four large video screens were arranged in a circular formation, while the stage floor incorporated video panels using Jumbotron technology.
Dion initially felt nervous performing in this configuration, as it offered little opportunity to rest while on stage. She noted that the idea was inspired by a Stevie Wonder concert she attended as a child. The entire production cost more than $10 million. For certain venues, such as in Munich, a 180-degree stage layout was used due to space limitations.
Critical reception The tour received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Dion's vocal control, emotional delivery, and versatility as a live performer.
For the opening concert in Boston, Steve Morse of The Boston Globe wrote that "despite Dion's nerves, she was able to pull off a successful concert", adding that "for pure entertainment, however, this was a volcanic triumph". Dion thanked the audience for being "lucky charm people", as it was the third time she had launched a world tour in the city.
In Oakland, James Sullivan of the San Francisco Chronicle noted Dion's strength as a live vocalist. He described the show's most compelling moment as a medley performed with her band at the front of the stage, noting that each song was delivered "with tender care—no small feat in a basketball gym". He also remarked that "All the Way" avoided excess sentimentality, with the accordion adding a touch of her French‑language roots.
Adam Sandler of Variety also reviewed the tour positively, writing that Dion "kept the vocal histrionics and hyper stage movements she has become known for to a minimum", instead focusing on vocal control and a more relaxed stage presence.
In Toronto, Jane Stevenson of Jam! awarded the concert four out of five stars. She described the staging of the opening number, "Let's Talk About Love", noting the gradual rise of the nine‑member band and the later appearance of a children's choir for the finale.
Broadcasts and recordings
The first glimpse of the tour appeared in the music video for "S'il suffisait d'aimer", recorded during Dion's concert in Chicago in September 1998. Footage from that performance, along with material from one of the December 1998 shows in Montreal, was later included in the television special Un an avec Céline, hosted by Julie Snyder. The final concert at the National Car Rental Center was filmed and broadcast on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which also included behind‑the‑scenes segments. Dion additionally performed "To Love You More" live in Tokyo for the UNCF's An Evening of Stars. The millennium concert was aired on TVA in Canada.
The concerts at the Stade de France in Paris were recorded for a CD/DVD release titled Au cœur du stade. During the show, Jean-Jacques Goldman joined Dion for "J'irai où tu iras", while "To Love You More" included violinist Taro Hakase, and Diana King appeared on screen during "Treat Her Like a Lady". The accompanying CD presented an abbreviated version of the concert, focusing primarily on her French‑language repertoire. A live video of "Dans un autre monde" was used to promote both the CD and DVD editions.
Set list The following set list is taken from the 1998 US leg of the tour and does not represent all concerts.
"Let's Talk About Love" "Declaration of Love" "Because You Loved Me" "The Reason" "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" "To Love You More" "Treat Her Like a Lady" "Tell Him" "S'il suffisait d'aimer" "Zora sourit" "Love Is on the Way" "All by Myself" Acoustic medley: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" / "Because" / "Tears in Heaven" / "All the Way" "Love Can Move Mountains" Bee Gees medley: "Stayin' Alive" / "You Should Be Dancing" "Immortality" "My Heart Will Go On"
Notes During "Let's Talk About Love", Dion was joined by a local children's choir at each concert. Diana King joined Dion for "Treat Her Like a Lady" in New York on 3 September 1998 and in Orlando on 2 October 1998. The music video for "S'il suffisait d'aimer" was filmed at the September 1998 concert in Chicago. Dion performed "Immortality" with the Bee Gees in Pittsburgh on 29 November 1998. Dion performed "The Reason" with Carole King in Montreal on 7 December 1998. The 18 December 1998 performance of "Treat Her Like a Lady" in Montreal was used for the single's music video. Dion performed "J'irai où tu iras" with Jean-Jacques Goldman at the 1999 concerts in Paris. In French-speaking countries, additional French-language songs were included.
Tour dates + List of 1998 concerts1998 tour dates:
Billboard Boxscore Top 10 Concert Grosses (1998):
Pollstar Boxoffice Summaries (1998):
Date (1998) City Country Venue Opening act Attendance Revenue 21 August Boston United States FleetCenter André-Philippe Gagnon 35,342 / 35,342 $1,950,481 22 August 25 August Philadelphia CoreStates Center 19,438 / 19,438 $1,110,747 26 August Washington, D.C. MCI Center 30 August East Rutherford Continental Airlines Arena 19,075 / 19,075 $1,172,810 31 August Uniondale Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16,909 / 16,909 $1,004,330 3 September New York City Madison Square Garden 37,448 / 37,448 $2,256,115 4 September 8 September Toronto Canada Molson Amphitheatre 41,666 / 41,854 $1,395,742 9 September 14 September Chicago United States United Center 38,436 / 38,436 $2,402,720 15 September 18 September Cleveland Gund Arena 19,776 / 19,776 $1,132,585 19 September Cincinnati The Crown 22 September Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills 41,212 / 41,212 $2,253,511 23 September 25 September Chapel Hill Dean Smith Center 19,942 / 19,942 $1,031,378 27 September Charlotte Charlotte Coliseum 18,530 / 18,530 $1,009,233 28 September Nashville Nashville Arena 17,805 / 17,805 $980,536 30 September Tampa Ice Palace 17,987 / 17,987 $986,115 2 October Orlando Orlando Arena 16,382 / 16,382 $916,610 3 October Sunrise National Car Rental Center 7 October CalgaryCanada Canadian Airlines Saddledome 15,614 / 15,614 $625,517 9 October Vancouver General Motors Place 18,858 / 18,858 $656,914 10 October Seattle United States KeyArena 15,306 / 15,306 $844,925 13 October Oakland Network Associates Coliseum 17,832 / 17,832 $1,115,100 14 October San Jose San Jose Arena 17,648 / 17,648 $1,073,177 16 October Las Vegas Thomas & Mack Center 17,013 / 17,842 $1,178,721 21 October Inglewood Great Western Forum 14,821 / 14,821 $894,590 22 October Anaheim Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim 16,043 / 16,043 $923,845 25 October Phoenix America West Arena 17,489 / 17,489 $995,343 29 November Pittsburgh Civic Arena 17,347 / 17,347 $986,476 1 December Albany Pepsi Arena 13,774 / 13,774 $853,295 5 December Halifax Canada Halifax Metro Centre 10,000 / 10,000 $367,401 7 December Montreal Molson Centre 142,485 / 142,485 $5,070,308 8 December 11 December 12 December 13 December 17 December 18 December
+ List of 1999 concerts1999 tour dates:
Billboard Boxscore Top 10 Concert Grosses (1999):
Pollstar Boxoffice Summaries (1999):