Shania Twain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shania Twain OC
Twain performing at Glastonbury 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
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Country pop country pop country rock
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Mercury Republic EMI

Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain OC (born August 28, 1965) is a famous Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records around the world. This makes her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She is also the best-selling female country music artist ever. Because of her huge success, people often call her the "Queen of Country Pop." Billboard magazine even said she was the top country-pop crossover star of the 1990s.

Shania grew up in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. She loved singing and writing songs from a young age. In the early 1990s, she signed with Mercury Nashville Records. Her first album, Shania Twain (1993), didn't sell well at first. But after working with producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who later became her husband, her career took off.

Her second album, The Woman in Me (1995), made her very famous. It sold over 20 million copies worldwide and had eight hit songs, including "Any Man of Mine." This album also won her a Grammy Award. Shania's third album, Come On Over (1997), is a record-breaker. Guinness World Records says it's the biggest-selling album by a female solo artist. It's also the best-selling country album and one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 40 million copies sold. Come On Over had twelve hit songs like "You're Still the One" and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!." It earned her four Grammy Awards.

Her fourth album, Up! (2002), also sold over 20 million copies. It featured popular songs like "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" and "Forever and for Always."

After releasing her Greatest Hits album in 2004, Shania took a break. She later shared that health issues affected her singing voice. She worked hard to get her voice back. In 2011, she released a new song, "Today Is Your Day," and wrote her autobiography, From This Moment On. She returned to performing in 2012 with a special show in Las Vegas called Shania: Still the One. In 2017, she released Now, her first album in 15 years. Her most recent album, Queen of Me, came out in 2023.

Shania Twain has won many awards. These include five Grammy Awards and inductions into Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is the only female artist to have three albums in a row certified Diamond by the RIAA. This means each album sold over 10 million copies in the United States!

Early Life and Childhood

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

Shania has shared that her childhood was difficult. Her parents didn't have much money, and sometimes there wasn't enough food. She didn't tell school officials about her family's struggles because she was afraid her family might be separated. Her mother and stepfather sometimes had a difficult relationship. Her mother also struggled with sadness. Shania once convinced her mother to take her and the children to a homeless shelter in Toronto. However, her mother and the children returned to Jerry in 1981.

In Timmins, Shania started singing in bars when she was only eight years old. She did this to help her family pay bills. She often earned $20 between midnight and 1 a.m. by performing for customers. Even though she didn't like singing in bars, she felt it was like her own special performing-arts school. She said, "My deepest passion was music and it helped. There were moments when I thought, 'I hate this.' I hated going into bars and being with drunks. But I loved the music and so I survived." She also found that writing her own songs became very important to her.

When she was 13, she was invited to sing on the CBC's Tommy Hunter Show. While attending Timmins High and Vocational School, she also sang for a local band called Longshot. They played popular Top 40 songs. In the early 1980s, she worked with her father's business that planted new trees in northern Ontario.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Her Journey (1983–1992)

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

Shania finished high school in June 1983. She was excited to explore more music. After her band Longshot ended, she joined a cover band called "Flirt." She toured all over Ontario with them. She also took singing lessons and sometimes cleaned her coach's house as payment.

In 1984, a Toronto DJ named Stan Campbell noticed her talent. He wrote in a newspaper that "Eilleen possesses a powerful voice with an impressive range." Country singer Mary Bailey also saw her perform and was amazed. Bailey said, "Her voice reminded me of Tanya Tucker, it had strength and character, a lot of feeling. She's a star, she deserves an opportunity."

On November 1, 1987, a sad event happened: her mother and stepfather passed away in a car accident. Shania moved back to Timmins to care for her younger siblings. She took them to Huntsville, Ontario, and supported them by performing at the nearby Deerhurst Resort.

First Album and Early Success (1993–1994)

After 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 impressed and signed her within a few months. Around this time, she changed her name to Shania. Some people say it means "on my way" in an Ojibwe language, but this isn't certain.

Her first album, Shania Twain, came out on April 20, 1993. It helped her gain fans outside of Canada. The album didn't sell a lot at first. However, because of her later success, it was certified platinum in 1999. This means it sold over 1 million copies. The album had two minor hit songs in the United States: "What Made You Say That" and "Dance with the One That Brought You." Shania wasn't very happy with this album because she didn't have much control over the songs. She only co-wrote one song, "God Ain't Gonna Getcha for That."

Becoming a Star with The Woman in Me (1995–1996)

When music producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange heard Shania's songs, he wanted to work with her. They talked on the phone for months and then met in Nashville in June 1993. They quickly became close and got married on December 28, 1993. They wrote almost all the songs together for her second album, The Woman in Me.

The Woman in Me was released on February 7, 1995. Eight of its twelve songs became singles. The first single, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?", was a hit. Then came "Any Man of Mine", which was her first number one country hit. Other popular songs from the album included the title track, "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!", "You Win My Love", and "No One Needs to Know".

By 2007, this album had sold over 12 million copies in the United States. It was certified Diamond, showing its huge success. Shania performed in many places and on TV shows because of this album. 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.

Global Fame with Come On Over (1997–2001)

In 1997, Shania released her next album, Come On Over. This album made her a huge international star. Twelve of its sixteen songs were released as singles. After songs like "Love Gets Me Every Time" and "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)" came out, the album started selling well. But when "You're Still the One" was released, sales exploded! Other big hits from this album include "From This Moment On", "That Don't Impress Me Much", and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!".

Twain performing on the Come On Over Tour in 1999

Come On Over reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and stayed popular for two years. It sold 40 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling album ever by a female musician. It also became the top-selling country album in history. Songs from this album won four Grammy Awards for Shania.

In 1998, a special remixed version of Come On Over was released for Europe. It had less country sound and more pop. This helped her become even more popular in Europe. Come On Over was number 1 on the UK album charts for 11 weeks. It became the best-selling album of the year in the UK.

In 1998, Shania started her first big concert tour, the Come On Over Tour. The shows were a huge success, winning "Country Tour of the Year" awards in 1998 and 1999.

Up! and Continued Success (2002–2004)

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

Up! was special because it came with three different versions: a country/acoustic CD, a pop/rock CD, and a world/dance CD. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard albums chart, selling 874,000 copies in its first week! It stayed at the top for five weeks.

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 and a big pop hit in the UK. Another popular song was "Ka-Ching!", which became a huge hit in Europe. The most successful single in the US was the romantic song "Forever and for Always".

Shania Twain performing during her Up! Tour in 2004

By January 2008, Up! had sold 5.5 million copies in the US. It was certified 11 times platinum (Diamond). This made Shania the only female artist to have three Diamond-certified albums in a row!

Greatest Hits and a Break (2004–2010)

In 2004, Shania released her Greatest Hits album, which included three new songs. One of these was "Party for Two", a duet that was popular in both country and pop charts.

In 2005, she released the song "Shoes" for the Desperate Housewives TV show soundtrack. In 2006, she recorded a duet with Anne Murray called "You Needed Me". This was her last recording with her husband Lange as producer. In 2008, they announced they were separating, and their divorce was finalized in 2010.

In 2009, Shania wrote to her fans explaining why her next album was delayed. She said she had been through personal challenges and was focusing on raising her son.

Returning to Music (2011–2015)

Twain announcing her upcoming Caesars Palace show in Las Vegas in 2011

In May 2011, Shania announced she would release her first new song in six years, "Today Is Your Day." She also published her autobiography, From This Moment On. She collaborated with Michael Bublé on his 2011 Christmas album, singing "White Christmas" with him.

On June 8, 2011, Shania announced she would have a special show in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace. Her show, called Still the One, ran from December 1, 2012, to December 13, 2014.

In July 2013, she shared on Facebook that she was working on a new album. In March 2015, she announced her first tour in eleven years, the Rock This Country Tour. She said this would be her last tour before her fifth studio album. However, she later clarified that she was not retiring from music.

New Albums and Las Vegas Residencies (2016–Present)

In October 2016, Shania confirmed she had new music coming soon. Her fifth studio album, Now, was released on September 29, 2017. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, making it her second album to do so. She then went on the Now Tour in 2018.

In June 2019, she announced her second Las Vegas show, Let's Go!, which started on December 6, 2019. This show ran until September 10, 2022.

Twain performing at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival

In July 2022, a Netflix documentary about Shania's career, called Not Just A Girl, was released. Her sixth studio album, Queen of Me, came out on February 3, 2023. It reached number 10 on the US Billboard 200 and number one in the UK.

In October 2022, Shania announced the Queen of Me Tour across North America and Europe. This was her first tour in almost five years. In August 2023, she announced her third Las Vegas show, "Shania Twain: Come On Over – The Las Vegas Residency – All The Hits!", which will run from May to December 2024. In March 2024, Shania Twain was honored with her own Barbie doll to celebrate International Women's Day. In June 2024, she performed at the famous Glastonbury Festival.

TV and Film Appearances

Shania's popularity grew when she appeared in the 1998 VH1 Divas concert. She sang alongside other huge stars like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. She also appeared in VH1's Behind the Music in 1999, which talked about her early life.

She played herself in the 2004 movie I Heart Huckabees. In 2009, she was a guest judge on American Idol. In April 2010, she announced her own TV show, Why Not? with Shania Twain, which started in May 2011 on OWN.

Shania has also made guest appearances on TV shows like Comedy Central's Broad City (2017) and Dancing with the Stars (2017). She was a guest judge on Rupaul's Drag Race in 2018. In 2019, she appeared 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 in the UK. She also appeared in an episode of The Kardashians in 2023 and the Netflix series A Man in Full in 2024. In 2025, she will become a judge on Canada's Got Talent.

Her Unique Musical Style

Shania Twain has a contralto vocal range, which means her voice is deep and warm. After facing health issues, she had to learn how to use her voice differently to keep performing. In 2018, she had a surgery to help her vocal muscles.

Even though she didn't write much on her first album, producer Mutt Lange saw that she was a talented songwriter. Shania and Lange wrote many songs together that explored different themes, like female empowerment and romantic feelings. She is known for singing songs about strong women, but she also sings many love songs. Shania believes that female singers are sometimes misunderstood for expressing strong views. She likes to write songs alone to avoid distractions. She often turns sad experiences into happy songs. Her album Now was the first one she wrote without Lange's help. This was important for her to create music on her own.

Her main music style is country pop. Critics say she expertly mixed rock music with country-pop. Up! is considered her most pop-focused album. Shania says she didn't dress in a bold way for attention, but simply because she liked it. She looks up to other female country artists like Karen Carpenter, Dolly Parton, and Taylor Swift.

Shania Twain's Impact on Music

BBC Online has called Shania Twain "the real Queen of Pop." They say she influenced many successful female artists who came after her, like Meghan Trainor, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift. Her success as a country-pop crossover artist showed that she was breaking new ground before many others.

Justin Chandler of CBC said that Shania helped create the "country-pop crossover" music style. Her album The Woman In Me is seen as an album that changed country music forever.

Shania Twain's success has earned her the nickname "Queen of Country Pop." Maclean 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, and her new ideas became important to the sound of Nashville. Rolling Stone magazine said her music helped define an era in country music and opened the way for other artists who mix genres.

Who She Has Inspired

Taylor Swift has said that Shania Twain inspired her to mix pop and country music. Swift often names Shania as one of her biggest musical influences.

Carrie Underwood believes that Shania "paved the way for a lot of us." She thinks all similar artists were influenced by Shania, even if they don't realize it.

Shania has also inspired many Canadian country music artists, such as Tenille Arts and Jess Moskaluke.

Rapper Post Malone and singer Rihanna have said Shania inspired them. Post Malone even called her his childhood crush. Shania has performed his song "Rockstar" live. She has also said she would like to work with Post Malone. Singer-songwriter Harry Styles has said Shania is his biggest influence in both music and fashion.

Her bold fashion choices have also inspired many artists. Halsey said Shania inspired her music video "You Should Be Sad".

Other Activities and Personal Life

In 2005, Shania worked with Febreze to create a special scent disc. The money from sales went to help feed people in need. Later, she partnered with Coty to create her own perfume called "Shania" by Stetson. A second perfume, "Shania Starlight," was released in 2007. On January 1, 2010, she carried the Olympic Torch through her hometown for the 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay.

Shania Twain met producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange after he heard her music. They married on December 28, 1993. They had a son, Eja, on August 12, 2001. Their divorce was finalized on June 9, 2010. On January 1, 2011, Shania married Swiss executive Frédéric Thiébaud in Rincón, Puerto Rico.

She is a vegetarian. In 2010, she started Shania Kids Can, a charity that helps children who are often overlooked by other programs. Her autobiography, From This Moment On, was published on March 27, 2011. She lives in Corseaux, Switzerland, and 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 Special Honors

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

Shania Twain has received many awards and special 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, Country Music Television ranked her No. 7 in their list of 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 given the title of Officer in the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor in Canada.
• Shania was added to 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 for her amazing achievements in music.
• In 2016, CMT called Shania the "Artist of a Lifetime." She was the first woman to receive this award.
• In June 2017, the Country Music Hall of Fame had a special exhibit about her called Shania Twain: Rock This Country.
• In August 2022, Shania received the Poet's Award from the Academy of Country Music for her songwriting.
• In October 2022, Shania was added to 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, Shania received the CMT Equal Play Award at the 2023 CMT Music Awards. This award recognizes artists who use their platform to break barriers and speak out for fairness.

Albums (Discography)

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

Film and TV Appearances (Filmography)

Concert Tours and Shows

Tours with other artists

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

Her own tours

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

Special shows in one place (Residencies)

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

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See also

In Spanish: Shania Twain para niños

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