Canadian pop singer Celine Dion broke down in tears as she thanked her late father for being her "No. 1 fan" during a ceremony Tuesday to receive her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Canadian singer Celine Dion poses during a ceremony honoring her with the 2,244th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, in Los Angeles.  [AP]

"My dad was my No. 1 fan, and he still is," the French-Canadian singer said before nearly 1,000 fans, many of them shouting out their condolences. Her father, Adhemar Dion, 80, died late last year after a lengthy illness.

The 35-year-old singer arrived at the Hollywood Boulevard ceremony wearing a cream-colored skirt suit that nearly matched the color of her hair. Her star sits in front of the Kodak Theatre.

"How often do natural blondes from Quebec make it big in Hollywood?" comedian Jay Leno joked in introducing Dion. She thanked the "Tonight Show" host for inviting her to perform on his show 13 years ago, giving her a big break on American television.

Dion had been scheduled to receive the star last March to coincide with the beginning of her three-year contract to perform at Caesars Palace hotel-casino in Las Vegas. But the ceremony was postponed because of the war in Iraq.

During the ceremony, Dion thanked her husband, Rene Angelil, for helping her launch her career and her fans for their support through the years.

"Everything that I have today and where I am is because you put me here," she told the crowd. She rewarded many of them by signing autographs after the ceremony.

Dion is best known for her hit "My Heart Will Go On" from the "Titanic" movie soundtrack.

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