Celine Dion is speaking out on the death of her friend, Vegas legend Danny Gans.

"I'm very, very sad, and completely shocked to hear the news about Danny," she said in a statement to ET on Friday. "[My husband] Rene and I have loved him very much since the first time we saw him and met him at the Rio in 1997. Not only was he the best in his field, but he was such a kind and loving person. About a month before my last show at Caesars, Danny and his wife Julie, and their daughters came to see us. We talked and laughed for over an hour. I can't believe he's not with us anymore, and our heart goes out to his family. I wish them God's strength."