The original inspiration for the show occurred when Dion and her husband René Angélil visited Las Vegas in 2000, at a time when she was taking a break to start a family, and they watched a performance of "O" by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio. Dion was so moved and impressed by "O" that she insisted on going backstage afterwards to get to know the performers. Franco Dragone in turn heard about Dion's favorable reception of his work, and several weeks later, wrote a letter to them to put forth the idea of an artistic collaboration. Angelil called Dragone, they arranged an in-person meeting, and A New Day... was the result.