Shania Twain is reflecting on her life journey, stating that she feels she is finally "getting it right" in her 60s after a childhood marked by poverty and a career path that presented significant challenges. The international music superstar shared her perspective in a recent interview, detailing how time and a changed outlook have allowed her to reconcile with her past.
Twain, born Eilleen Regina Edwards, grew up in Timmins, Ontario, facing significant financial hardship and witnessing domestic abuse. She recalled taking on adult responsibilities at a young age, including caring for her mother and ensuring the household had food and adequate clothing. "I started life out a little bit on the tough side," Twain told Fox News Digital. "In my 60s now, I feel like I've really gotten it, or I'm just now getting all of that right."
Her early years were also defined by performing in bars as a child to help support her family. These experiences, beginning when she was eight years old, contributed to a lifelong struggle with stage fright. The unfamiliar and often adult environment of the bars, coupled with singing about mature themes, left a lasting impact. "This was just an uncomfortable place to be as a child, and I carried that with me," she explained. "And only in my 50s, I finally just said, 'Whoa. I've got my voice. I have an audience. I have everything to just celebrate.' And the fear just dropped away."
Further challenges arose when Twain's mother and stepfather died in a car accident in 1987. At 22, she became the primary caregiver for her three younger siblings, putting her burgeoning music career on hold. She moved back to Ontario to manage the family's affairs, learning about mortgages, debts, and insurance overnight.
Despite these adversities, Twain is now able to view these difficult periods with a sense of accomplishment. "When I reflect back on those times, I'm reflecting on them from where I am now, which is a very good place," she said. "Like, I made it out of there. It's like, 'Whoa, I'm just celebrating all of that.' And what makes me feel so accomplished is staying connected to where I came from. It's the contrast that makes it feel so good."
After her siblings were independent, Twain moved to Nashville and signed with Mercury Nashville. Her 1995 album "The Woman in Me" was a breakthrough, followed by the global success of "Come On Over," which remains the best-selling album by a female artist. Over her career, she has sold over 100 million records and won five Grammy Awards.
Twain's path to success also included health struggles. In 2003, she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which affected her vocal cords and led to a 15-year gap between studio albums. She underwent open-throat surgery in 2018. While her voice changed, developing a "fry" or gravelly quality, Twain has embraced it as part of her sound. "I've taken a different approach to singing my older songs," she noted. "In fact, I've found new placements in my voice that I enjoy, you know, that I didn't have before."
Recently, Twain fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing at Toronto's historic Horseshoe Tavern, a venue she aspired to play since her youth. "I guess I've finally made it after all these years," she told the cheering crowd. "It was really a big deal to be able to play the Horseshoe Tavern."
Her new album, "Little Miss Twain," is inspired by her life experiences, with the title track reflecting on her childhood self and the journey from performing in bars at eight years old to signing a record deal. Twain expressed contentment with her life's timing, stating, "I plan to live to be 200 anyway!"