Shania Twain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shania Twain OC
Twain in 2024
Born	Eilleen Regina Edwards (1965-08-28) August 28, 1965 (age 59) Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Other names	Eilleen Twain
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	1983–present
Spouse(s)	Robert John "Mutt" Lange ​ ​ (m. 1993; div. 2010)​ Frédéric Thiébaud ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	1
Relatives	Henk Wijngaard (uncle)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Timmins, Ontario
Genres	Country pop country pop country rock
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Mercury Republic EMI
Signature

Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain is a famous Canadian singer and songwriter. She was born on August 28, 1965. Shania Twain has sold over 100 million records worldwide. This makes her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She is also the best-selling female country music artist ever. People often call her the "Queen of Country Pop". Billboard magazine recognized her as a top artist who blended country and pop music in the 1990s.

Shania grew up in Timmins, Ontario. From a young age, she loved singing and writing songs. She signed with Mercury Nashville Records in the early 1990s. Her first album, Shania Twain (1993), did not become a big hit right away. However, her second album, The Woman in Me (1995), made her very famous. It sold over 20 million copies and won a Grammy Award.

Her third album, Come On Over (1997), is one of the best-selling albums of all time. Guinness World Records says it is the biggest-selling album by a female solo artist. It sold over 40 million copies worldwide. This album had many hit songs like "You're Still the One" and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!". It also earned her four Grammy Awards. Her fourth album, Up! (2002), sold over 20 million copies.

After releasing her Greatest Hits album in 2004, Shania took a break. She later shared that she had Lyme disease and dysphonia. These conditions affected her singing voice. She worked hard to get her voice back. In 2011, she released a new song, "Today Is Your Day". She also wrote a book about her life called From This Moment On. Shania returned to performing with a show in Las Vegas from 2012 to 2014. In 2017, she released her first album in 15 years, Now. Her latest album, Queen of Me, came out in 2023.

Shania Twain has won many awards. These include five Grammy Awards and two World Music Awards. She has stars on Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is the only female artist to have three albums sell over 10 million copies in the United States. Billboard also named her the highest-earning female country touring artist.

Early Life and Family

Shania Twain was born Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Her birthday is August 28, 1965. She has two sisters, Jill and Carrie Ann. When she was two, her parents divorced. Her mother moved to Timmins, Ontario, with her daughters. Later, her mother married Jerry Twain, who was Ojibwa. They had a son named Mark. Jerry adopted Shania and her sisters, and their last name became Twain. Jerry and Sharon also adopted Jerry's baby nephew, Darryl, after his mother passed away.

Shania has said her childhood was difficult. Her parents did not have much money. Food was often hard to find at home. She did not tell school officials about their struggles. She was afraid her family might be separated. Her mother and adoptive father sometimes had arguments. Shania witnessed these arguments from a young age. Her mother also struggled with sadness. Shania once convinced her mother to take them to a shelter in Toronto. However, her mother and the children returned to Jerry in 1981.

In Timmins, Shania started singing in bars when she was eight years old. She did this to help her family pay bills. She often performed late at night. Even though she did not like singing in bars, she felt it was like her own music school. She said, "My deepest passion was music and it helped." She also said that writing songs became very important to her.

When she was 13, Shania was invited to sing on the CBC's Tommy Hunter Show. In high school, she was the singer for a local band called Longshot. They played popular songs. In the early 1980s, she worked with her father's tree-planting business. This work was very hard. She said she loved being in nature and would write songs there. She would sit alone in the forest with her dog and a guitar.

Music Career Beginnings

Kenogami Lake, Ontario, where Twain spent much time practising in 1985

Shania finished high school in June 1983. She wanted to do more with her music. After her band Longshot ended, she joined a cover band called Flirt. She toured Ontario with them. She also took singing lessons. A Toronto DJ named Stan Campbell noticed her talent. He wrote that she had a powerful voice.

Country singer Mary Bailey saw Shania perform in Sudbury, Ontario. Mary was very impressed. She said Shania's voice had strength and feeling. Mary thought Shania was a star who deserved a chance. On November 1, 1987, Shania's mother and adoptive father died in a car accident. Shania moved back to Timmins to care for her younger siblings. She took them to Huntsville, Ontario. There, she earned money by performing at the nearby Deerhurst Resort.

Several years later, her siblings moved out. Shania made a demo tape of her songs. Her manager helped her show her music to record companies. Mercury Nashville Records was interested and signed her. Around this time, she changed her name to Shania. Some people thought it was an Ojibwa word meaning "on my way." However, this meaning is not fully confirmed.

Her first album, Shania Twain, came out on April 20, 1993. It helped her reach audiences outside Canada. Before the album was released, she sang backup for other artists. The album reached No. 67 on the US Country Albums Chart. Critics gave it good reviews. It did not sell many copies at first. But later, because of her success, it sold over 1 million copies. The album had two small hit songs in the United States: "What Made You Say That" and "Dance with the One That Brought You". The album was more popular in Europe. Shania won an award there for "Rising Video Star of the Year." In her 2011 book, she said she was not happy with her first album. She felt she had little control and could not show her songwriting skills.

Becoming a Star

In 1993, rock producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange heard Shania's songs. He offered to produce and write music with her. They talked on the phone for many months. They met in Nashville in June 1993. Shania and Lange became very close quickly. They got married on December 28, 1993. They wrote almost every song on her second album, The Woman in Me.

The Woman in Me was released on February 7, 1995. Eight songs from the album became singles. The first single, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?", reached No. 11 on the Billboard Country Chart. Then came her first No. 1 country hit, "Any Man of Mine". This song also made it into the Top 40 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other hits from the album included the title track and three more No. 1 hits: "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!", "You Win My Love", and "No One Needs to Know". "No One Needs to Know" was even used in the 1996 movie Twister.

By 2007, the album had sold over 12 million copies in the United States. This album was a big breakthrough for Shania. She performed at shows around the world. Mercury Nashville promoted the album with many music videos. Shania also appeared on TV shows like the Late Show with David Letterman. The Woman in Me won a Grammy Award for Best Country Album. She also won Best New Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music.

International Success with Come On Over

In 1997, Shania released her next album, Come On Over. This album made her a huge crossover star. Twelve of the sixteen songs on the album were released as singles. After the first few singles, like "Love Gets Me Every Time", the album started selling well. When the third single, "You're Still the One", came out, sales went way up. Other popular songs from the album included "From This Moment On" and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!". Most of the singles had music videos. "From This Moment On" was a duet with singer Bryan White.

Twain performing at the FleetCenter in Boston on the Come On Over Tour, June 1999

The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It stayed on the charts for two years. It sold 40 million copies worldwide. This made it the biggest-selling album ever by a female musician. It also became the best-selling country album in history. Songs from Come On Over won four Grammy Awards. Shania won for "You're Still the One" and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!".

In 1998, a remixed version of Come On Over was released in Europe. It had less country music sound and more pop. This helped her become very popular in Europe. Come On Over was No. 1 on the UK album charts for 11 weeks. It became the best-selling album of the year in the UK. It also sold millions in other European countries. Songs like "That Don't Impress Me Much" and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" became big hits there. The song "You've Got a Way" was even remixed for the movie Notting Hill.

The album stayed in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 for 99 weeks. This was a record. Billboard magazine said Shania Twain was the most played adult contemporary artist on US radio in 1999. In 1998, she started her first big concert tour. It was very successful. The Come On Over Tour won "Country Tour of the Year" in 1998 and 1999. By 2004, Come On Over had sold over 20 million copies in the United States.

Up! and Continued Success

After a two-year break and the birth of her son, Eja, Shania and Lange returned to the studio. Their new album, Up!, was released on November 19, 2002. On January 26, 2003, Shania performed at the Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show. About a year later, she started her Up! Tour.

Up! was special because it came with three different versions. There was a country/acoustic disc (green), a pop/rock disc (red), and a world/dance disc (blue). The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart. It sold 874,000 copies in its first week. It stayed at the top for five weeks. Up! also reached No. 1 in Germany and was popular in other countries. The world music disc had Indian-style music added to it.

Shania Twain performing in Wembley Stadium during her Up! Tour in February 2004

Shania's popularity in the UK was clear from her many appearances on the music show Top of the Pops. In 2002, a special show was dedicated to her. In November 2004, she appeared on a BBC charity show called Children in Need. She performed "Up!" and took part in a magic trick.

Eight songs from Up! were released as singles. The first single, "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!", was a top 10 country hit in the US. It also reached No. 4 in the UK. The next single was the title track, "Up!". The third single, "Ka-Ching!", was released in Europe. It became a hit there, reaching No. 1 in Germany and Austria. This song criticized too much buying.

The most successful single from the album in the US was "Forever and for Always". It was a romantic song released in April 2003. It reached No. 4 on the country chart and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Forever and For Always" also made it to the Top 10 in the UK and Germany. All eight singles had music videos. By January 2008, Up! had sold 5.5 million copies in the US. Shania became the only female artist to have three albums sell over 10 million copies each.

Later Career and Comeback

In 2004, Shania released her Greatest Hits album. It included three new songs. By 2012, it had sold over 4.15 million copies in the US. The first single, "Party for Two", was a duet. It was a top ten country hit with Billy Currington. The pop version with Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath was a top ten hit in the UK and Germany.

In August 2005, she released the song "Shoes" from the Desperate Housewives TV show soundtrack. In late 2006, Shania and Anne Murray recorded a duet of Murray's song "You Needed Me". This was her last recording with her husband Lange as producer. In May 2008, they announced their separation. Their divorce was finalized in 2010. In December 2010, it was reported that Shania was engaged to Frédéric Thiébaud. They married on January 1, 2011.

Twain announcing an upcoming Caesars Palace two year residency, June 2011

In May 2011, Shania confirmed she would release her first new single in six years, "Today Is Your Day". This happened after her TV show Why Not? with Shania Twain ended. She worked with producers David Foster and Nathan Chapman on the song. She also published her autobiography, From This Moment On. In June 2011, she announced she would have a two-year show in Las Vegas. Her show, called Still the One, ran from December 1, 2012, to December 13, 2014.

In July 2013, she shared that she was working on a new album. In March 2015, she announced her first tour in eleven years. This was called the Rock This Country Tour. She said it would be her last tour before her fifth album. She also confirmed she was not retiring from music. She mentioned finding several producers for her new album.

In October 2016, Shania confirmed new music was coming soon. In February 2017, she talked more about the album. She hoped to release a single in March and the album in May. In April 2017, Billboard announced her new single, "Life's About to Get Good", would come out in June. The album was planned for September. Shania performed new music at the Stagecoach Festival. Her fifth album, Now, was released on September 29, 2017. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She then went on the Now Tour in 2018. In June 2019, she started her second Las Vegas show, Let's Go!. This show ended on September 10, 2022.

Recent Projects

Twain performing at the Glastonbury Festival 2024

In July 2022, a Netflix documentary about Shania's career was released. It was called Not Just A Girl. A music album with the same name came out with it. On September 23, 2022, Shania signed with Republic Nashville. She released "Waking Up Dreaming" as the first song from her sixth album, Queen of Me. The second song, "Giddy Up!", came out on January 5, 2023.

Queen of Me was released on February 3, 2023. It was her first album with her new record label. The album reached number 10 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was her sixth album to reach the top ten in the US. In Canada, Queen of Me debuted at number two. In the United Kingdom, it was her third number one album.

On October 22, 2022, Shania announced the Queen of Me Tour. This tour went across North America and Europe. It was her first tour in almost five years. She also sang on the song "Unhealthy" with Anne-Marie. This song became a top 20 hit in the UK. On August 15, 2023, she announced her third Las Vegas show. It is called Shania Twain: Come On Over – The Las Vegas Residency – All The Hits! It is scheduled to run from May to December 2024. In March 2024, Shania was honored with her own Barbie doll. In June 2024, she performed at the Glastonbury Festival 2024. She announced more Las Vegas shows for January and February 2025. In May 2025, Shania announced a summer tour for July and August. This includes festivals like the Calgary Stampede.

TV and Film Appearances

Shania Twain's popularity grew with her TV appearances. In 1998, she sang at the first VH1 Divas concert. She performed with other famous singers like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. In 1999, VH1's Behind the Music show featured her life story.

She appeared as herself in the 2004 movie I Heart Huckabees. In November 2008, she made a TV appearance at the CMA Awards. In 2009, she was a guest judge on American Idol. In April 2010, she announced her own TV show, Why Not? with Shania Twain. It started on May 8, 2011. She also returned to American Idol as a mentor.

In September 2017, she was a guest star on the TV series Broad City. She also appeared as a guest judge on Dancing with the Stars in October 2017. In 2018, she was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. She competed against singer Meghan Trainor on the show Drop the Mic in January 2018. She was also honored on an episode of Lip Sync Battle.

In November 2018, she was an executive producer and co-presenter for the show Real Country. In 2019, she acted in the film Trading Paint with John Travolta. In 2020, she played the mother of singer Jeremy Camp in the movie I Still Believe. In 2023, she was a judge on the TV show Starstruck. She also appeared on the reality series The Kardashians. In 2024, she was in the Netflix series A Man in Full. She guest starred in the medical drama Doctor Odyssey in October 2024. She also appeared in the concert film Andrea Bocelli: 30 The Celebration Concert Film. In December 2024, she was in a Netflix Christmas special with Sabrina Carpenter. In 2025, she became a judge on Canada's Got Talent.

Her Music Style

Twain on stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2024

Shania Twain has a deep, rich singing voice. In 1996, Newsweek described her voice as "warm" and "sweet." After her Lyme disease diagnosis, her voice changed. She had to learn new ways to sing to keep performing. In 2018, she had surgery to help her vocal muscles.

Even though she did not write much on her first album, her producer noticed her talent for songwriting. Shania and Lange were a "versatile" songwriting team. Their songs explored different topics like female strength and romantic feelings. Her songs range from happy love songs to strong, sassy rock songs. She often writes about women standing up for themselves. She believes this does not mean women do not love or need men.

Shania likes to write songs alone to avoid distractions. She often turns sad experiences into happy songs. Her album Now was the first she wrote without Lange. This was important for her to create ideas on her own. She used the album to deal with the end of their relationship.

Her main music style is country pop. This means she blends country music with pop and rock sounds. Her album Up! is considered her most pop-focused album. Shania says she did not dress provocatively for attention. She simply enjoyed her outfits. She supports other pop stars who dress boldly. She is inspired by female country artists like Karen Carpenter, Dolly Parton, and Taylor Swift. She also admires Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline.

Her Impact on Music

Twain at the 2011 Canadian Music Hall of Fame

BBC Online called Shania Twain "the real Queen of Pop." They said she influenced many female artists who came after her. These include Meghan Trainor, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift. She was one of the first country artists to become a big pop star. Her success showed that she was doing what Taylor Swift later did, but earlier.

CBC said Shania helped create the "country-pop crossover" genre. Her album The Woman In Me changed country music forever. Shania Twain is known as the "Queen of Country Pop." Maclean's magazine called her "the reigning queen of country music" in 1998.

The New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica called her "Country's Crossover Queen." He said she was both a pop star and a country rebel. Many of her ideas became central to the sound of Nashville. Rolling Stone magazine said her music defined an era in country music. It also opened the way for other artists who mixed genres.

According to Kristin M. Hall of the Associated Press, Shania's global success changed country music for years. NPR said she redefined what a country superstar looked and sounded like. She influenced a generation of country artists. They started making flashier music videos and bigger shows.

Influence on Other Artists

Taylor Swift says Shania Twain inspired her to blend pop and country. Swift calls Shania one of her biggest musical influences. Carrie Underwood believes Shania "paved the way for a lot of us." She thinks all similar artists were influenced by Shania. Many Canadian country artists, like Tenille Arts and Dean Brody, also say Shania influenced them.

Rapper Post Malone and singer Rihanna have said Shania inspired them. Post Malone called her his childhood crush. Shania even sang his song "Rockstar" live. She has said she wants to work with Post Malone. Singer-songwriter Harry Styles says Shania is his biggest influence in music and fashion. Her bold fashion choices also inspired many artists. Halsey was inspired by Shania for her music video "You Should Be Sad".

Endorsements and Charity

In January 2005, Shania worked with Scentstories by Febreze. They created a special scent disc. The money raised went to Feeding America, a charity that helps feed people. In late 2005, she partnered with Coty to create her perfume, "Shania" by Stetson. A second perfume, "Shania Starlight," was released in September 2007. On January 1, 2010, she carried the Olympic Torch through her hometown. This was part of the 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay.

In 2010, Shania created Shania Kids Can. This charity helps children who are often overlooked by social programs. Her autobiography, From This Moment On, was published on March 27, 2011. She lives in Corseaux, Switzerland, where her son was born. She also has homes in Las Vegas and the Bahamas. When she performs in North America, she sometimes wears the jersey of the local National Hockey League team.

Awards and Recognition

Twain's maple leaf on Canada's Walk of Fame

Shania Twain has received many awards and honors for her music and career:

• She was named Entertainer of the Year in 1999 by both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. She was the first non-US citizen to win the CMA award.
• In 2002, she was ranked No. 7 in Country Music Television's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music.
• In 2003, Shania received a maple leaf on Canada's Walk of Fame.
• Her hometown of Timmins, Ontario, named a street after her. They also gave her the key to the city and built the Shania Twain Centre in her honor.
• On November 18, 2005, Shania was made an Officer in the Order of Canada. This is a high honor in Canada.
• She was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on March 27, 2011.
• On June 2, 2011, Shania received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• In December 2016, she received the Billboard Women in Music Icon Award. This was for her amazing achievements in music.
• In 2016, CMT called her the "Artist of a Lifetime." She was the first woman to receive this honor.
• In June 2017, the Country Music Hall of Fame had an exhibit about her called Shania Twain: Rock This Country.
• In 2018, she received the CCMA Generation Award.
• In August 2022, Shania received the Poet's Award from the Academy of Country Music for her songwriting.
• In October 2022, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
• In December 2022, Shania received the Music Icon Award at the 48th People's Choice Awards.
• On April 2, 2023, she received the CMT Equal Play Award. This award recognizes artists who break barriers and speak out for fairness.

Discography

• Shania Twain (1993)
• The Woman in Me (1995)
• Come On Over (1997)
• Up! (2002)
• Now (2017)
• Queen of Me (2023)

Filmography

Tours

Co-headlining tours

• Triple Play Tour (1993; with John Brannen and Toby Keith)

Headlining tours

• Come On Over Tour (1998–1999)
• Up! Tour (2003–2004)
• Rock This Country Tour (2015)
• Now Tour (2018)
• Queen of Me Tour (2023)

Residencies

• Shania: Still the One (2012–2014)
• Let's Go! (2019–2022)
• Come On Over - All The Hits! (2024–2025)

See also

In Spanish: Shania Twain para niños

• Music of Canada
• Forbes list of highest-earning musicians