When Celine Dion and Josh Groban performed The Prayer, it wasn’t the result of a label-assembled duo — it was pure fate. Their powerful rendition left audiences breathless, but few know that its roots stretch back to 1998, when a young and unknown Groban got the chance of a lifetime.
It all started when music mogul David Foster called Josh to stand in for opera legend Andrea Bocelli during a Grammy rehearsal with Dion. Groban, overwhelmed by the pressure, nearly turned it down — but Foster insisted he take the leap. And thank goodness he did.
Celine later recalled just how nervous Groban was, “He was shaking… I felt nervous for him!” But once he opened his mouth to sing, the nerves melted away, revealing a voice that stunned even Dion. That moment sparked a connection that would lead to their unforgettable 2008 performance.
In a video introducing their duet, Celine shares how she played a key role in launching Josh’s career, even calling their second performance her way of honoring that first magical meeting. Their voices blend with such raw emotion and tenderness, it’s hard not to get goosebumps.
They may not have teamed up again since, but with chemistry like that, who knows what the future holds?