Does Celine Dion look 45 years of age?

She is probably the only singer alive with both the voice and the record sales to rival Mariah Carey, and she’s ready to return to the music scene. The press caught up with Celine Dion backstage at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards and she revealed that she is hard at work on a new album, which will be released later this year.

Reportedly entitled Water & a Flame, the album will be Dion’s first full English language album since 2007′s Taking Chances. Although she refused to name the various songwriter and producers contributing to the project, it was previously confirmed that Ne-Yo has recorded a duet with the diva.

In addition to talking about her new material, Dion also shared her wisdom regarding the industry and seemed to snipe at her only true contemporaries of the last 20 years – late Whitney Houston and Carey. Dion spoke of how many artists fall victim to negative influences and lose their way, echoing the comments she made about Houston shortly after her untimely death in 2012.

Dion also chatted about artists who drastically change their styles in an effort to stay relevant. Isn’t that the exact criticism that has been fired at Carey since her Butterfly album of 1997. Perhaps I’m imagining things but you can develop your own conclusion by watch Dion chat at the Billboard Music Award below:

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America

Thoughts?