Shania Twain, the best-selling female artist in country music history, and one of the top-selling music artists of all time, will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Known as the “Queen of Country Pop,” Shania became a global superstar in the 1990s. But not many people know about the struggles she faced along the way. Before her big break, Shania grew up in poverty, often going hungry. Then, at just 22, a heartbreaking tragedy changed her life and gave her new responsibilities.
Shania was born as Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, on August 28, 1965. Later, she changed her last name to Twain when her mother, Sharon, married a man named Jerry Twain.
Shania Twain’s biological father wasn’t around when she was growing up, so she never publicly called him her dad. Instead, her stepfather, Jerry, stepped in and took care of Shania and her two sisters, even legally adopting them.
Shania once said, “My father (Jerry) went out of his way to raise three daughters that weren’t even his. For me to acknowledge another man as my father, a man who was never there for me as a father, who wasn’t the one who struggled every day to put food on our table, would have hurt him terribly.”
Shania’s childhood wasn’t easy. She grew up in poverty in the rural town of Timmins, Canada. Her stepfather Jerry, who was a full-blooded Ojibway, worked hard but didn’t earn much money, making it difficult to provide for the family.
Shania Twain and her sisters often didn’t have enough to eat growing up. Sometimes, the only food they had was a dish called “goulash,” which was just dry bread with boiled milk and brown sugar. During the cold Canadian winters, Shania had to wear bread bags on her feet because her family couldn’t afford proper boots.
Even though things were tough, Shania never told anyone about their situation. She was afraid that if people knew how bad things were, the authorities might separate her family.
Her home life was also unstable. The marriage between her mother, Sharon, and her stepfather, Jerry, had its problems. At one point, Shania convinced her mom to leave Jerry, and they all went to a homeless shelter in Toronto. But when Shania was 16, her mother decided to go back to Jerry and try to make things work again.
Because of her difficult childhood, Shania said she lived in “survivor mode” even as an adult. She felt she couldn’t rely on her parents to protect her or be steady caregivers.
When Shania was eight years old, she started singing in bars to help pay the bills. Even though it was a risky thing for such a young girl, she could make up to $20 a night, which was a big help for her struggling family. Even though she didn’t like doing it, the money was essential for them to get by.
Shania Twain’s love for music helped her get through tough times. She said in *Shania Twain: The Biography*, “My deepest passion was music, and it helped. There were moments when I thought, ‘I hate this.’ I hated going into bars and being around drunks. But I loved the music, and so I survived.”
Performing in rural bars and retirement homes in Canada helped Shania improve her stage presence and explore her musical talent. It wasn’t long before she was ready for bigger opportunities.
At 13, Shania got her big break by performing on *The Tommy Hunter Show*, a famous country music variety show on CBC Television. Hosted by Tommy Hunter, known as “Canada’s Country Gentleman,” the show gave Shania a great chance to show off her skills as a country singer.
In the mid-1980s, Shania was still a struggling singer-songwriter trying to make it in the music world. She had joined her first band, Longshot, when she was 16, but eventually moved to Toronto at 21 to further pursue her dreams in music.
As Shania Twain continued performing, more people began to notice her incredible talent and beauty. One of those people was famous country singer Mary Bailey. When she saw Shania perform in Sudbury, Ontario, she was amazed.
“I saw this little girl up on stage with a guitar, and it absolutely blew me away,” Bailey said. Shania performed Willie Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Bailey thought Shania’s voice was powerful and full of emotion, reminding her of singer Tanya Tucker. She knew right away that Shania had the potential to be a star.
Bailey, who later became Shania’s manager, recalled, “She sang a few songs that she had written, and I thought to myself, this kid is like nineteen years old—where does she get this? This is from a person who’s lived sixty years.”
In 1987, Shania Twain was on the verge of breaking through as a country artist. She had the talent and the opportunities, and Nashville was ready for her. But then, a tragedy changed everything.
On the afternoon of November 1, 1987, Shania’s parents, Jerry and Sharon, were driving on a remote logging road to a work site. Sadly, their car collided with a truck carrying timber. Both Jerry and Sharon died in the crash, leaving behind their two sons and three daughters.
Shania was devastated when she heard the news. She described the feeling as being like a tree with strong roots for 30 years, only to have someone try to cut her down.
Instead of focusing on her music career, Shania decided to return to her hometown of Timmins. She took on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings, who were 13, 14, and 18 at the time
Shania Twain said that the time after her parents’ deaths was very hard, but it also helped her grow up and become more mature. She took on the responsibility of raising her younger siblings by herself, making sure they had the support they needed.
Later, Shania and her siblings moved to Huntsville, Ontario. There, she found a job as a singer and dancer at the Deerhurst Resort. At that time, Shania thought about giving up on music because she needed to focus on taking care of her family. She said in 1995, “I thought, my family comes first. I have to take care of them. I didn’t even think of my future…. I’m lucky I got the job at Deerhurst, because it was music. I didn’t know where I was going to go from there.”
While working at Deerhurst, Shania continued to develop her skills as an entertainer. She made a demo tape of her songs, which caught the attention of a Mercury Nashville Records executive. This led to Shania being invited to Nashville, where she released her first album, *Shania Twain*, in 1993. Although the album didn’t become a big hit, it received positive reviews from critics.
One person who really liked Shania Twain’s music was South African record producer Mutt Lange. He was so impressed that he contacted Shania to see if he could help produce and write songs with her.
After meeting at Nashville’s Fan Fair in June 1993, they started working together closely and quickly became very close. Just six months later, they got married. Even though Shania was more than ten years younger than Mutt, they had a special connection. Together, they wrote many hit songs that helped make Shania a superstar, including the albums *The Woman in Me* (1995) and *Come On Over* (1997).
By 2007, The Woman in Me had sold more than 12 million copies in the United States. At the time of its release it was a huge success, turning Shania Twain into a star overnight.
Shania Twain said in 1997, “We just took a chance and followed our instincts, and it worked out. I think there was something on that album for everybody.”
Usually, Shania wrote the lyrics for their songs, and Mutt Lange created the music. While working on the album *Come On Over*, Mutt added some rock-n-roll elements, inspired by his past work with bands like AC/DC and Def Leppard.
The result of combining country and rock music was a huge success, with the album selling 40 million copies worldwide. The 1997 album included some of Shania’s biggest hits, like “You’re Still The One” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.”
Shania Twain said, “In my mind, I was just being myself, and that was the great thing — to just be myself and let my personality come through in the music.”
In the late 1990s, “Shaniamania” took America by storm. Today, *Come On Over* is the ninth best-selling album of any kind in the US and the top-selling country album ever.
On August 12, 2001, Shania and Mutt Lange welcomed a son. They named him Eja (pronounced “Asia”) and, according to the media, Shania delivered her son at a hospital in Switzerland, without any “media fanfare”.
Shania Twain’s down-to-earth charm was evident when she kept her pregnancy private. She didn’t share any details about her baby, Eja, when he was born.
However, a few years later, Shania went through a very public divorce, and some unflattering details about her marriage were revealed in the media.
Before the divorce, there had been many rumors about problems in Shania’s marriage. In 1997, she addressed these rumors and denied that they were getting divorced.
She said, “Mutt and I are an unlikely pair. There’s been talk in the tabloids that we’re divorcing, but we are very happy. We love each other in every way. We have a great creative relationship and a great personal relationship. We feel as strong as ever—and ‘Still the One’ is sort of my own personal song about marriage.”
In 2008, though, Shania and her husband separated. The reason? Lange had engaged in an affair with Shania’s best friend, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.
Shania was, of course, completely heartbroken. She said she cried constantly and took five baths a day. According to the country star, she was ”ready to die”.
“I’ll be honest: when your husband leaves you, and falls into the arms of your close friend, your self-esteem can really suffer,” she said.
Shania and Marie-Anne were really good friends who had first met when the latter was hired as an assistant and interpreter for Mutt Lange. After finding out about the affair, Shania confronted her so-called friend.
”I just told her that she was a bad person – that’s all I could get out!’
‘When I left her, I thought, “You’re such a wimp, you coward!”‘
Things took an unexpected turn for Shania Twain when she found love again.
In 2011, Shania married businessman Frédéric Thiébaud, who was once married to her former friend Marie-Anne. They connected through their shared heartbreak and got married in Puerto Rico, with a small ceremony attended by about 40 close friends and family.
Shania told the Daily Mail, “I don’t take any day for granted anymore. Fred has given me a new lease on love.”
Shania Twain has said that she found “a true friend and a dear gentleman” in her husband, Frédéric Thiébaud. She describes their 10+ years together as a true gift. When they started dating, Fred surprised her with romantic trips, like flying her to a Swiss glacier and renting out a whole movie theater just for her.
Shania said, “It’s twisted. So beautifully twisted.” Fred added, “To express my love, words are not enough. I’m more in love with her every day.”
Shania lives in Corseaux, Switzerland, with her husband. She is known for being very private and rarely gives interviews.
In recent years, Shania has released several albums with mixed success. Right now, she is performing in Las Vegas, where she showcases her award-winning career with highlights from her iconic videos and global tours.
She has also tried her luck in the film industry, appearing in several movies over the years. In 2019, she starred alongside John Travolta in Trading Paint, and in 2020 portrayed the mother of singer Jeremy Camp in the autobiographical movie I Still Believe.
Though Shania does not appear as often on the top lists today, she has left a massive mark in popular culture. Once the reigning queen of country music, she helped influence artists such as Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood.
Carrie Underwood said in 2016, “I think we were all definitely influenced by Shania, even if we don’t realize it. Her music was so different and revolutionary at the time. She definitely paved the way for a lot of us.”
Shania was also known for her stylish outfits and supermodel looks. In 2009, readers of Hello! magazine voted her the No. 1 Most Beautiful Canadian. Shania has shared some of her secrets for staying youthful, including being a vegetarian, eating lots of raw food, and meditating daily.
She said, “A happy heart comes first, then the happy face.”
Shania Twain, now 59, talked about how she’s handling aging. She admitted to being a bit insecure about her changing body. She said, “I’m letting ‘the girls’ hang loose under my sweat clothes around the house. When someone comes to the door, I cross my arms under them for support.”
In a 2020 interview on the LadyGang podcast, she mentioned, “Aging is a battle you can’t win. I just started accepting it and stepping away from fights I can’t win.”
Shania added that focusing on aging was taking up too much of her energy and space in her life. “I’ve got songs to write. I’m not gonna sit around,” she said.
Are you also a fan of Shania Twain? I think she’s still gorgeous and more important – a really great woman. Shania is an example for us all. Love and just admire her!
If you are inspired by this amazing woman, forward this story to everyone you know on Facebook!
JENNIFER LOPEZ AND BEN AFFLECK’S DIVORCE BOMBSHELL: THE SURPRISING REASON THAT’S DIVIDING FANS
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s divorce has surprised many fans, especially since their reunion was so widely celebrated. New information has come out that gives some insight into why they decided to split up, leading to heated discussions on social media.
As more details come to light, fans are coming to terms with the reality behind the couple’s glamorous image. Jennifer and Ben first got together in the early 2000s and, after two decades apart, found love again. It seemed like they were headed for a happy future together. However, Jennifer has now filed for divorce, ending their two-year marriage.
Friends and insiders have shared their thoughts on why Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck decided to split up. They say that Ben’s lack of commitment and Jennifer’s heartbreak were big factors. But there’s more to the story. Differences in how they wanted to live their lives and Ben’s unpredictable moods also played a role in the breakdown of their marriage.
Even though Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck rekindled their romance, they faced major challenges in their marriage, with one of the biggest being their very different lifestyles.
Jennifer, a major star in the entertainment world, loves being in the public eye. She enjoys the spotlight, often surrounded by large groups of people and staying very active in the media.
Ben Affleck, on the other hand, prefers a quieter, more private life. He’s known for being thoughtful and introspective, often content spending time at home, away from the public eye.
This difference in their personalities caused tension in their marriage. While Jennifer enjoyed the fast-paced, busy lifestyle in the spotlight, Ben’s need for solitude and privacy created a growing disconnect between them.
This disconnect went beyond just personal preferences—it highlighted deeper differences between Jennifer and Ben that might have been impossible to resolve. Their struggle to find a balance between their public and private lives may have been an early indication that their marriage was in trouble.
As the tension in their marriage increased, another major issue came to light—Ben Affleck’s unpredictable moods. Sources close to the couple revealed that his emotional ups and downs weren’t just temporary. They saw this as an ongoing problem that made their relationship even more difficult. Ben’s extreme and erratic mood swings made it hard for Jennifer Lopez to find stability in their marriage.
Ben Affleck’s moods reportedly changed dramatically, often without any warning. He could be warm and affectionate one moment, then suddenly become distant and withdrawn. This constant emotional upheaval left Jennifer Lopez struggling to cope with the unpredictability in their relationship.
These mood swings created an atmosphere of uncertainty, leaving Jennifer Lopez unsure of which version of Ben Affleck she would face each day. This emotional unpredictability strained their relationship and contributed to a toxic environment, making it even harder for them to work through their differences.
Despite their best efforts to make the marriage work, Ben Affleck’s inability to manage his moods became a hurdle they couldn’t overcome. For Jennifer Lopez, who values consistency and emotional security, this part of their relationship was especially difficult.
Friends of the couple noted that there was real love between them, but the emotional rollercoaster caused by Affleck’s moods proved too challenging to handle.
Lopez’s Struggle to Keep the Marriage Alive
Jennifer Lopez was dedicated to making her marriage with Ben Affleck work, despite the growing challenges. Friends close to her have shared that she put a lot of effort into saving their relationship.
Even as it became clear that Affleck was less committed, Lopez’s determination to keep their marriage intact was strong. However, her efforts were not matched by Affleck, making it even harder for her to sustain their union.
As Ben Affleck’s interest in the marriage seemed to fade, Jennifer Lopez found herself facing a tough decision. Affleck’s lack of commitment was not only disappointing but also hurtful.
Lopez’s friends were worried and suggested that, after four failed marriages, she might need to take a step back and think about her own life and choices.
When the news of her split from Affleck became public, her friends were frustrated and advised her to focus on herself and think about what she truly wants for her future.\In the end, Lopez realized that despite her best efforts, the marriage couldn’t survive without both of them being fully committed. The emotional strain of trying to keep the relationship going led Lopez to decide to prioritize her own well-being and move on.
The Symbolic Divorce Filing
Jennifer Lopez’s decision to file for divorce on August 20, 2024, was highly symbolic. That date marked the second anniversary of her and Ben Affleck’s extravagant wedding in Georgia, a day that had once represented hope and a fresh start for the couple.
**The Symbolic Divorce Filing**
Jennifer Lopez’s choice to file for divorce on August 20, 2024, seemed to carry a lot of meaning. This date was the second anniversary of her and Ben Affleck’s lavish wedding, a day that had once symbolized hope for their relationship.
By picking this particular day, Lopez might have been making a statement about her emotional journey. Some believe she chose this date to highlight how final her decision was and to take control of her story after a difficult marriage.
However, sources close to Ben Affleck revealed that he had already been emotionally distant from the relationship long before the divorce papers were filed. His apparent lack of concern about the date suggests that their relationship had been struggling for a long time before the official split.
While the filing marked the end of their marriage, it also showed the emotional distance that had grown between them. What began as a highly publicized reunion had quietly fallen apart behind the scenes.
Public Reactions: Internet Users Share Their Thoughts
The news of Lopez and Affleck’s divorce has led to a wide range of reactions online. People’s opinions vary from deep concern to outright dismissal.
Many people expressed sadness over the breakup, with some speculating that Ben Affleck’s unpredictable moods might be linked to a deeper issue. One user commented, “Soooo sad…really breaks my heart. I think Ben may suffer from bipolar disorder or something…his mood swings aren’t normal. Still, JLo believes in love.”
Others pointed out the differences between the couple, similar to what insiders had said. One user noted, “I heard they were opposites. Ben doesn’t like big entourages, while JLo can’t seem to get enough of them.”
However, not everyone was sympathetic. Some questioned if the blame was being placed too much on Affleck. One user asked, “Really!!! Everything is Ben’s fault??? [sic]” and others agreed, feeling the story might be more complicated.
Concerns for Affleck’s well-being were also raised. “I worry about him. Hope he doesn’t hurt himself,” one comment said, highlighting worries about the emotional impact of the split on him.
Some users were indifferent, with one saying, “Who cares, they have always been a disaster.” This reflects a broader range of opinions, where not everyone is invested in celebrity relationships.
Others were simply heartbroken. One user captured this sentiment by saying, “We don’t need a reason. It’s just sad,” showing that some people felt deeply disappointed by the news.
Another fan suggested that both Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck might benefit from individual counseling, saying, “It’s so sad! Maybe they both should seek separate counseling just for themselves!!”
These diverse reactions show how deeply connected fans felt to Lopez and Affleck’s relationship and the emotional impact their divorce has had on the public.
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