Shania Twain, the best-selling female artist in country music history with over 100 million records sold and five Grammy awards, has faced profound personal tragedies that shaped her career. Her new album, 'Little Miss Twain', released on 24 July, marks a return to her Canadian country roots.
Early Life and Tragedy
Growing up in Timmins, Ontario, Twain experienced poverty and violence, turning to music as an escape. On 1 November 1987, at age 22, her mother Sharon and stepfather Jerry were killed in a car accident near Wawa. She learned of the tragedy by phone while studying in Toronto.
"I collapsed hearing that news over the phone," Twain told The Arts Hour on the BBC World Service. "My sister called me and I could hear my little brother howling in the background. We were all just reeling together."
Guardianship and Resilience
Twain moved back home to care for her younger siblings, taking on responsibilities like a second mortgage and understanding accident reports. "I wasn't allowed to grieve because I was thrown into this state of guardianship," she said. Music had to wait until a family friend found her a job at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario.
There, she sang in a variety show, providing a steady income to keep the family together. For three years, she continued writing songs, sharing demos with her manager, Mary Bailey. One demo reached a Nashville music lawyer, who came to hear her sing live. "A proper bigwig from Nashville," she recalled.
Career and Challenges
Her signature launched a career that reshaped country music. She married producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange in 1993; they had a son, Eja, in 2001. In 2003, a tick bite led to Lyme disease and dysphonia, requiring open-throat surgery. "I thought I'd lost my voice forever," she said in her documentary 'Not Just a Girl'.
Her marriage ended in 2010 after Lange's affair with her best friend. She later married Frederic Thiebaud, the friend's former husband, and they live mainly in Switzerland. She has also acted, appearing in films like 'Trading Paint' and 'I Still Believe'.
New Voice and Legacy
Now 60, Twain has accepted her changed voice: "I'm never going to have my old voice again. I'm OK with that. I've found a new voice. And I like it." Her influence spans generations, inspiring artists like Orville Peck and Harry Styles. Taylor Swift, a longtime fan, once wrote about meeting her idol, saying, "Shania Twain, as in the reason I wanted to do this in the first place."
