Divas Live 98, unedited ?

[Nmj]

As far as I know, never before released unedited audio (the video is not synced) of Divas Live 1998 ending. Céline actually sings and speaks at parts before and after the famous riff off with Aretha that we all know. She says goodnight right after Mariah says it, too.

 

https://Www.youtube.com/watch?v=thQhLL08qZU

 

Listen for her at 0:33 - 0:34, 1:01 - 1:03, 1:16, 2:35, 2:46 - 2:50, 3:24, and 9:10 - 9:16!

 

Woaaa that was dreadful to watch.

Those poor 4 -5 divas .. left there to stand behind her and pretend they were enjoying themselves. Mariah was like wtf the entire time. Lol. Aretha barely interacted with them. She was like “i’m the Queen, stay behind and do nothing not even back vocals, i’ll be here for 10 minutes screaming the same words”

 

Yeah it was awkward to listen and watch LOL.

 

It must’ve been the egos of Mariah and Aretha ( rest her soul )

 

It seemed like a love fest and perfectly fun performance for “you’ve got a friend”... all the same Divas except Mariah and Aretha didn’t want to participate.

[justinecoria]

As far as I know, never before released unedited audio (the video is not synced) of Divas Live 1998 ending. Céline actually sings and speaks at parts before and after the famous riff off with Aretha that we all know. She says goodnight right after Mariah says it, too.

 

https://Www.youtube.com/watch?v=thQhLL08qZU

 

Listen for her at 0:33 - 0:34, 1:01 - 1:03, 1:16, 2:35, 2:46 - 2:50, 3:24, and 9:10 - 9:16!

Oh. My. God. This is a gem. I've always wanted to see the video, never could find it!! I even thought it was never broadcasted.

By the way, I've always wondered if what Aretha says at the 8:00 mark is "I love the man" or "I love Celine" or something else?

Edited April 19, 2020 at 03:24 PM by justinecoria

[PuraVida]

Oh. My. God. This is a gem. I've always wanted to see the video, never could find it!! I even thought it was never broadcasted.

By the way, I've always wondered if what Aretha says at the 8:00 mark is "I love the man" or "I love Celine" or something else?

 

It is hard to understand some of her words! From 7:50 - 8:00 IMO Aretha says, "Good god almighty!" and then "I love the name!"...of course meaning God/Jesus' name...but the subtitler seemed to hear "I love the man". I hear an "n".

 

I've seen a version or two of this audio/video kicked around, but never this long. Let's hope it doesn't disappear. But it goes to show how dominant Aretha was acting that night, but also how she did engage with Celine before the famous tete-a-tete that happened.

Edited April 19, 2020 at 03:58 PM by PuraVida

[PuraVida]

In case anyone missed this article. It was originally going to be a Celine only affair, and the "Three Divas" affair...I think that might have been just as legendary! Who knows what vocal battles that would've caused lol.

 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/divas-live-20th-anniversary_n_5acf57f6e4b0701783ac229a

[GoldenLeaf]

Looks like Patti LaBelle (shame on her) is siding on Mariah's side about the ''so-callled'' Aretha/Celine controversy (even though there is no controversy, it's only a controversy in Mariah's troubled and paranoiac mind lol).

 

 

][/b]1 diva tried to ‘upstage’ Aretha Franklin

 

 

What was meant to be a tribute to Franklin ended up becoming a vocal acrobatics competition between Franklin and Dion. Carey reminisced on the cringeworthy incident in her 2020 memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey.

 

“Look, if Aretha was going to riff or ad-lib anywhere, that was her prerogative as Queen, but you do not — repeat, do not — take it as a challenge,” Carey said. “One of the divas didn’t understand the culture of the court and tried to come for the Queen a little bit during the song.”

 

“[Franklin] was the bandleader; you followed her,” Carey added. “The dueling diva had gone too far before (in my humble opinion) and appeared to try and outsing Aretha.” Franklin brought in gospel vocals and Carey started ad-libbing “Jesus!” while Dion continued to try to out-riff the Queen of Soul.

 

“I couldn’t believe anyone would try to upstage Aretha Franklin on her tribute, while singing about Jesus, no less,” Carey said.

 

Patti LaBelle’s lesson to Mariah Carey about the performance

 

 

Franklin was unfazed, however, and the divas got through the “Natural Woman” performance. Carey later talked about the incident with LaBelle and knew she made the right decision to not get involved with the sing-off.

 

“Later I told the story to Patti LaBelle — Godmother, as I call her,” she recounted. “She has given me good, seasoned advice and has literally held my hand through some tough situations. So when I called her and told her about the scene, she said, ‘Mariah, if you would’ve participated in that hoedown, I would’ve had to come slap you in the face.”

 

Carey concluded: “Hopefully the one lesson we all earned on that stage was R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”

https://www.cheatshe...iah-carey.html/

Edited September 5, 2021 at 08:44 PM by GoldenLeaf

[Bruno Portugal]

Looks like Patti LaBelle (shame on her) is siding on Mariah's side about the ''so-callled'' Aretha/Celine controversy (even though there is no controversy, it's only a controversy in Mariah's troubled and paranoiac mind lol).

 

 

https://www.cheatshe...iah-carey.html/

 

Fortunately there is Carole King...

Just watch the performance video to see what really happened. Celine was elegant, confident, powerful and sublime!

If Mariah's voice hadn't been in trouble that night maybe all these stupid comments wouldn't exist.

[PuraVida]

It seems like everyone was on Celine's side except for Mariah. There is a compilation of their interviews

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUyYG5sDbQ4

[jpatdeleon09]

Of course they will not side to the bitter butter jelly attitude

[GoldenLeaf]

It seems like everyone was on Celine's side except for Mariah. There is a compilation of their interviews

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUyYG5sDbQ4

Love this!

[zuv]

F… k mariah

 

She’s so mad she wasnt celine that night 😂😂

[zuv]

Also id like to add:

 

Mariah did exactly what Celine did just before. Again she’s probably mad it didn’t end between her and Aretha… and wish Celine had done her thing before her.

 

Second, Celine WAS in the back with all the other divas, waiting awkwardly for Aretha to end “her” show. But then Aretha starts asking for one of the divas to come battle satan by singing jesus… lol. she’s actively looking, almost begging for one of them to step up… so Celine came out and did her thing and had so much fun. How are people missing that part in their analysis? Mariah is such a bctih and such a drama queen. All that none sense… and i didn’t know mariah had been so vocal about it. She is sooo jelly! And Celine only had good words for her… when Mariah was going through tough pregnancy issues. Urggh she makes me cringe. I’m not a lamb, thank god.

Kinda funny she calls them lambs, lambs follow their leader blindlessly, no matter how idiot their leader is.

 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2021 at 01:23 PM by zuv

[Dancing_Queen]

And the Patti Labelle anecdote makes me laugh. You better know Patti would have been screaming and hollering all over the place if she had been there, no doubt about it.

 

I love how Céline never directly replied to her though. Makes it even more pathetic that Mariah had to dreg it up again all those years later...

 

[jpatdeleon09]

And the delulu lambs are being bitter with that as well

[smw]

I think it’s pretty clear that the vast majority of people (unless you’re a huge Mariah fan) side with Celine regarding the Aretha moment. The comments I’ve seen on YouTube mostly side with Celine, even if they’re not Celine fans.

 

If Mariah fans choose to be shallow regarding this topic, that’s their choice. But fortunately the footage from that night speaks for itself. And there are plenty of Mariah fans who even speak up for Celine on this topic too. Sadly there will always be people who choose to believe Mariah’s convoluted attempt at rewriting history - mostly because they can’t handle the fact that their idol didn’t shine that night.

 

The good thing about the controversy is more & more people discover how phenomenal Celine was that night - and her epic, powerful moment with Aretha.

 

And for Mariah, it’s a big stain on her career - not because she didn’t rise up and powerfully sing with Aretha that night like Celine did - but because she’s shown her deep insecurities over & over again by trying to tear down such a kind diva like Celine. And her insecurity is now forever documented in her memoir… yikes.

[GoldenLeaf]

And the Patti Labelle anecdote makes me laugh. You better know Patti would have been screaming and hollering all over the place if she had been there, no doubt about it.

 

I love how Céline never directly replied to her though. Makes it even more pathetic that Mariah had to dreg it up again all those years later...

LOL! True! To me it seems Patti is still slightly bitter and jealous about the fact that Celine's version of ''If You Asked Me To'' was more successful than her version... it doesn't really surprise me she sides with Mariah regarding the Divas Live 1998 concert.

 

As for Aretha, what about her? Has she ever talked about her experience on stage with Celine during interviews?

[thatstheteacherinmehbaby]

I think it’s pretty clear that the vast majority of people (unless you’re a huge Mariah fan) side with Celine regarding the Aretha moment. The comments I’ve seen on YouTube mostly side with Celine, even if they’re not Celine fans.

 

If Mariah fans choose to be shallow regarding this topic, that’s their choice. But fortunately the footage from that night speaks for itself. And there are plenty of Mariah fans who even speak up for Celine on this topic too. Sadly there will always be people who choose to believe Mariah’s convoluted attempt at rewriting history - mostly because they can’t handle the fact that their idol didn’t shine that night.

 

The good thing about the controversy is more & more people discover how phenomenal Celine was that night - and her epic, powerful moment with Aretha.

 

And for Mariah, it’s a big stain on her career - not because she didn’t rise up and powerfully sing with Aretha that night like Celine did - but because she’s shown her deep insecurities over & over again by trying to tear down such a kind diva like Celine. And her insecurity is now forever documented in her memoir… yikes.

 

Yea pretty much ALL of us Celine fans know the real TRUTH with this 'Divas Live 98' debaticle...

 

Honesty, no disrespect to Mariah, who yes has her own talent & all & she is not a terrible singer especially back in the 90s, buuuut... Mariah just COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH CELINE THAT NIGHT! She just couldnt... & Aretha DID invite the girls to sing with her during the "Natural Woman", & Celine just decided to take up that invite... It was NOT "malicious", or "mean-spirited" as Mariah makes it out to be, it was just a group women singing on stage, & just 2 of them (Aretha & Celine,) just happened to take the lead... Seriously not to sound mean, but Mariah just needs TO LET IT GOOOOO... (quoting the song from the Disney movie "Frozen" lol haha!) & she needs to just move on... It has been 23 years, almost 24 years ago since 'Divas Live', time to let it go & move on Mariah, find a new hobby or something lol... How many more years, decades will Mariah dwell on this silly thing? 😵😜

 

[Ukrfan]

LOL! True! To me it seems Patti is still slightly bitter and jealous about the fact that Celine's version of ''If You Asked Me To'' was more successful than her version... it doesn't really surprise me she sides with Mariah regarding the Divas Live 1998 concert.

 

As for Aretha, what about her? Has she ever talked about her experience on stage with Celine during interviews?

 

Patti is delusional. Her comments that Celine's version became more succesful only because Celine is a "white girl" are both offensive and faulty. She clearly can't get over the fact that Celine's version is just better

[PuraVida]

LOL! True! To me it seems Patti is still slightly bitter and jealous about the fact that Celine's version of ''If You Asked Me To'' was more successful than her version... it doesn't really surprise me she sides with Mariah regarding the Divas Live 1998 concert.

 

As for Aretha, what about her? Has she ever talked about her experience on stage with Celine during interviews?

 

Watch the interview compilation above. She talked about it on Oprah

[zuv]

 

 

Watch the interview compilation above. She talked about it on Oprah

 

But did not comment her famous and friendly battle of voices with Celine

[PuraVida]

But did not comment her famous and friendly battle of voices with Celine

 

I think she was talking in general about the whole night, including the battle. I don't think anyone ever really openly called it a battle in the media until very recently, only Mariah right?

[smw]

The comments on this video demonstrate how many people side with Celine when it comes to that night.

Even lots of Lambs are siding with Celine on this one.

And, again, the one great thing about Mariah refusing to let this rest is that it makes many people go back and see Celine's iconic moment with Aretha Franklin.

Celine's coming out on top... by staying quiet / keeping it classy / letting history speak for itself.

 

[PuraVida]

What's also annoying is how people/Mariah fans are so quick to say "she had nodules" "she was not in great vocal condition" "98 was a bad year for her"......what they are implying is that if Mariah was vocally healthy she could have and would have gone toe-to-toe with Aretha. Which is exactly what they are shading Celine for.

 

Makes no sense.

[Tintin Leblanc]

Does anyone have a copy of the Testimony video - a longer version? I've been searching my whole life :wacko: but can't find one

[Abodi2002]

Does anyone have the unedited concert available for download?

[jpatdeleon09]

Guys! I just remembered something that the original plan was only Celine Dion to do a show then it become a divas live.. any memories about these?

[Davey84]

Guys! I just remembered something that the original plan was only Celine Dion to do a show then it become a divas live.. any memories about these?

 

I don't think there was a plan of doing a Céline only show. But Céline was the first one they booked. From the booklet:

 

[jpatdeleon09]

 

 

I don't think there was a plan of doing a Céline only show. But Céline was the first one they booked. From the booklet:

 

 

Thanks for this

[GoldenLeaf]

On 5/30/2012 at 12:15 AM, CelineAndRene said:

I found it on my computer! What luck! They've been uploaded. Try to spot all the differences from the DVD. There's quite a few.

 

River Deep, Mountain High:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fnI4uhFQr0

 

The Reason:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX7VKSxXttk

 

My Heart Will Go On:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLDqlhkxO_s

 

You've Got A Friend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJCnDu3J_tc

 

Natural Woman & Testimony:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ciZAhivLF0

Too bad all the YouTube videos got deleted. You'd be our hero if you could upload the full TV version of the 1998 Divas Live concert to Google Drive, since many of us are looking for it. 💗

Edited August 22, 2026 at 05:26 AM by GoldenLeaf

[Abodi2002]

On 8/22/2026 at 1:16 AM, GoldenLeaf said:

Too bad all the YouTube videos got deleted. You'd be our hero if you could upload the full TV version of the 1998 Divas Live concert to Google Drive, since many of us are looking for it. 💗 
 

Celine Fan 77 shared the version they had not too long ago. I have saved a copy to my google drive. The quality isn't the best but listenable. But if anyone has full  Natural Woman available that would be great. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GW48PyL66tm5YVm7uM3G0lNFXeb5yloC/view?usp=drivesdk

[Jumongmarzo1678]

On 8/23/2026 at 3:18 AM, Abodi2002 said:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GW48PyL66tm5YVm7uM3G0lNFXeb5yloC/view?usp=drivesdk

I Hope We Could Have The Real Time Broadcast Version Of This In Untouched File😌