BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Celine sues US tabloid for $20m (original) (raw)

"Since that story came out, everyone has been congratulating me and I have to keep telling them that it's not true," she said.

"I only wish it was true and I hope and pray that some day it will be," she added.

The mass circulation paper, which specialises in sensational celebrity stories, reported the pregnancy in its 1 February edition.

The cover of the paper featured a photograph of Dion with the headline "Celine - I'm pregnant with twins".

Dion's lawyer Martin Singer said: "Not only is the news false but the weekly gave the impression that Mme. Dion had revealed her pregnancy during an interview which, in fact, never took place".

Dion, from the Canadian province of Quebec, alleges misappropriation of the right of publicity, "false light invasion of privacy", unfair competition and unfair business practices, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

No representatives of the Enquirer, which is based in Santa Monica, California, and Florida could be reached for comment.

Dion, whose hits include My Heart Will Go On from the movie Titanic, recently announced she was taking a two-year break from her career to spend time with her husband Rene Angelil, who has cancer.