Happy Birthday, Shania Twain! (2023)
Shania Twain, born on August 28, 1965, is a Canadian singer and songwriter known as the “Queen of Country Pop” and she is the only singer to make three certified diamond albums in a row. She has sold over 100 million records. During her career, Twain has received several awards for her music, including Grammys, World Music Awards, and B.M.I. Songwriter Awards. She was also featured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Let’s celebrate her birthday today.
(photo credit: National Today)
Eileen Regina Edwards, better known as Shania Twain, was born on August 28, 1965, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Her parents divorced when she was barely five. Twain’s mother, Sharon, remarried a man named Jerry Twain, who decided to adopt Sharon’s three daughters. Twain’s family often struggled financially. The situation was so bad at times that they barely had a proper meal. Understandably, the situation took a toll on Twain’s adoptive father, who expressed his anger in the form of shouting and general irritation towards his wife. During this tough time, music was the only thing that kept Twain going. And because of her constant practice, she could already write music when she turned 10. She even used her talent to earn money for her family. Unfortunately, the situation got even worse. In 1987, Twain’s parents died in a fatal car crash, leaving her to support her three younger siblings. However, Twain didn’t lose hope. She continued to write songs and perform in clubs.
Twain began performing in several clubs over the next few years, and people started noticing her. However, it wasn’t until her demo track reached a studio in Nashville that Twain’s life got better. The studio offered a contract on the spot, and the producer took her to Nashville to record her first album. Twain published her self-titled album in 1992. It sold 100,000 copies, gaining the attention of Robert “Mutt” Lange, who worked as a producer for Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, and Michael Bolton. Lange reached out to Twain, sparks flew, and they got married in 1993. He also helped her navigate the music industry. Two years later, Twain released her second album, “The Woman in Me,” which won her a Grammy. Twain’s popularity soared, but she wasn’t done. In 1997, she released her third album, “Come On Over,” which sold over 100 million copies, making her the best-selling female country musician of all time.
Unfortunately, soon after the release of her third album, Twain was diagnosed with Lyme disease and dysphonia, causing her to take an extended leave from music. However, she didn’t disappear entirely. Twain appeared as herself in her series “Why Not? With Shania Twain” and published her autobiography “From This Moment On” in 2011. She was later inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
