CELINE Dion is struggling to forgive herself for not holding her husband Rene Angelil in her arms as he died.

The superstar lost her longtime manager and husband of 21 years in January following a long battle with cancer.

Dion was not by his side when he took his last breath, and the mother of three admits she will forever regret not being able to grant Angelil’s final wish.

“He wanted to die in my arms,” she told ABC News in her first TV interview since her tragic loss.

“I cannot live with a regret but this I do. He did not die in my arms but I think he died in my heart.”

Dion is slowly adjusting to life as a single mum, and she is doing her best to try to let go of the pain of her one big regret.

“If I hold on to this, I won’t move on,” she acknowledged.

Rene-C-harles Angelil, Celine Dion, Patrick Angelil, Andre Angelil, Jean-Pierre Angelil and Anne-Marie Angelil attend Rene Angelil's memorial ceremony at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on February 3.Source:Supplied

“I have to give myself a reason to move on.”

During the candid chat, which aired in the US on news show Nightline, the My Heart Will Go On star also detailed her final moments with Angelil after rushing to his side following his death.

“I started to talk to him and I said, ‘You know what, I want you to just go in peace. I want you to not worry,” she recalled.

“You were worrying for my career. You were worrying for the children. You were worrying for everything. It’s enough. Do you trust me? Please do. Trust me’.”

She continued, “(I said), ‘The kids are fine. I’m fine. I promise you we’re gonna be OK. Please leave in peace. I don’t want you to worry’.

“I covered him because he was very cold, I took one of his bathrobes and I put one on him and one on me. I talked to him in his ear and I kissed him so much.”

Rene-C-harles Angelil and Celine Dion attend the State Funeral Service for Celine Dion's husband.Source:Supplied