Shania Twain rose from humble beginnings to become the best-selling female artist in the history of country music. Born in Windsor, Ontario, she was raised by her mother and stepfather in Timmins, Ontario after her parents divorced. Twain grew up with her brothers in poverty as her parents struggled to make ends meet with a logging business, and began performing in local bars at an early age to help out financially. Two early stints in pop bands came to an end when her mother and stepfather were killed in an accident, forcing her to take a job singing at a resort to raise her brothers. Twain was eventually signed to Mercury Records in Nashville, releasing her self-titled debut album in 1993. The album sold poorly at first, but brought her to the attention of rock producer Mutt Lange, who offered to produce her next project. He and Twain married, and their partnership produced 1995's 'The Woman in Me,' which introduced a new pop-country sound and scored enormous hit singles with "Any Man of Mine" and "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" The album sold more than 12 million copies and launched Twain to superstardom, but it was the follow-up, 1997's 'Come On Over,' that cemented her position as the biggest crossover artist of her generation, selling more than 40 million copies worldwide. Twain released 'Up!' in 2002, which sold significantly less, though it was still a huge commercial success. The tour for that album would be followed by years of inactivity from Twain, who had a son, got divorced and eventually remarried in the following decade. She returned to the spotlight with a Las Vegas residency in 2012, and has announced a tour for 2015 that she says will be her last, accompanied by a new studio album.
- Birth Name: Eilleen Regina Edwards
- Top Songs: “Any Man of Mine,” “You’re Still the One,” “From This Moment On”
- Did You Know? Twain has been treated for dysphonia, a condition that affects the vocal cords.
- Further Reading: Top 10 Shania Twain Songs, You Think You Know Shania Twain?