It was 1997. The radio was basically owned by the Titanic soundtrack, and if you weren't wearing butterfly clips, you weren't trying. But in the middle of all that pop-culture chaos, two of the biggest voices on the planet decided to join forces. We’re talking about Tell Him, the massive collaboration between Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion. Honestly, it’s one of those songs that feels like it’s always existed, but the story behind how it actually came together is kinda wild.
Most people think it was just a corporate marketing move. You know, put the two best singers in a room and print money. But it actually started with a missed connection at the Oscars and a literal handwritten note.
The Night Everything Changed at the Academy Awards
Back in March 1997, Barbra Streisand was nominated for an Oscar for the song "I Finally Found Someone" from her movie The Mirror Has Two Faces. Usually, the nominee sings the song. But Barbra? She wasn't feeling it. She decided to sit the performance out.
The producers scrambled. They asked Natalie Cole to fill in, but she got sick at the last minute. With only two days to go, they called Celine Dion.
Celine was already scheduled to sing her own song, "Because You Loved Me," that night. Taking on a second performance—especially one originally meant for her idol—was a huge risk. But she did it. She nailed it.
Barbra wasn't in the room to see it live, but she watched the tape later. She was so impressed that she sent Celine a bouquet of flowers and a note. It basically said, "I watched the tape, you sang my song beautifully, and I regret I wasn't in the room to hear you. Next time, let's make one together."
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That note was the spark for Tell Him.
How Tell Him Barbra Streisand Celine Dion Became a Reality
Celine’s husband and manager, René Angélil, didn't let that opportunity slide. He reached out to David Foster, the legendary producer who worked with both women. Foster teamed up with Walter Afanasieff and Linda Thompson to write a power ballad that could handle two of the most powerful ranges in music history.
Recording the track wasn't just a simple afternoon in the studio. They recorded across different cities—New York, Los Angeles, and London.
Breaking Down the Vocals
When you listen to the track, you can hear the "vocal tennis" happening.
- Barbra starts with that signature, breathy tone.
- Celine comes in for the second verse, keeping it restrained at first.
- By the end, they are both hitting those stratospheric notes that only they can reach.
Critics were divided, though. Some loved the "vocal olympics," while others, like David Browne from Entertainment Weekly, famously said Barbra glided in like "buttah" while making Celine sound like "margarine." Kinda harsh, right? But the fans didn't care. They loved the drama of it all.
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The Single That Never Hit U.S. Stores
Here is a weird fact: Tell Him was a massive hit everywhere except on the U.S. retail charts. Why? Because the physical single was actually cancelled in the United States.
There was apparently a major dispute between Sony and 550 Music (the respective labels for the two stars) over who would get the credit and the revenue. They ended up pulling the retail single entirely to avoid the drama.
While it blew up on Adult Contemporary radio and topped charts in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, U.S. fans had to buy the full albums—either Streisand’s Higher Ground or Dion’s Let’s Talk About Love—if they wanted to own it.
The Grammy Performance That Vanished
The biggest tragedy for fans of Tell Him happened at the 1998 Grammy Awards. This was supposed to be the first (and only) time the two would perform the song live together on stage.
The world was waiting. The rehearsals were scheduled. But then, Barbra got a severe case of the flu. She had a high fever and couldn't even make it to the building. Celine had to go on alone to accept awards for "My Heart Will Go On" later that night, and the duet performance was scrapped forever.
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To this day, they have never performed the song together live in front of an audience.
Why the Song Still Matters Today
Despite the lack of live performances, the song has a massive legacy. It’s a staple for karaoke (if you’re brave enough) and remains a masterclass in vocal production.
The lyrics are basically a conversation between an older, wiser woman and a younger woman who is nervous about expressing her feelings to a man. It’s sweet, a little old-fashioned, and perfectly fits the "diva" personas of both singers.
If you're looking to revisit this era of music, start by listening to the remastered HD version of the music video. It gives you a behind-the-scenes look at them in the studio together, and you can see the genuine respect they had for one another. You might also want to track down the 12-inch vinyl single if you're a collector—they're becoming pretty rare, sometimes selling for over $150 in good condition.
Check out the "making of" footage on platforms like Dailymotion or YouTube to see how David Foster balanced those two massive personalities in the studio. It's a fascinatng look at how high-level pop music used to be made before everything was done over email.