Shania Twain was born on Saturday, August 28, 1965. She is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Born Eileen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario she changed her name to Shania which is an Ojibwa Indian word meaning "I'm on my way". Twain is the surname of her adoptive father Jerry Twain. Her birth father was Clarence Edwards. She grew up in Timmins, Ontario, where the city renamed a street for her and built the "Shania Twain Museum."

Initially known as a country music artist, after her musical collaboration with (and subsequent marriage to) rock producer Robert "Mutt" Lange, her music veered towards pop, with huge commercial success following. Her 1995 album The Woman In Me sold 12 million copies, and the 1998 release Come On Over sold even more, spawning no less than eight singles that were worldwide hits.

Many newer fans were totally unaware of her country music roots, particularly as singles released outside the United States and Canada featured remixed versions de-emphasising country-style instrumentation.

In 2002, she went one step further by releasing three versions of her album UP!. The album comes with two discs, one containing the country version of the songs and the second disc with remixed versions. In North America, the remixed disc contains pop versions of the songs. In Europe, the remixed disc contains world versions of the same songs.

In 2001 she took time off to have a child, resting at her home in Montreux, Switzerland. In 2002 she released a new album and began performing live again in 2003. In October of 2003, she and her husband purchased a new home, a ranch in New Zealand.

Career

Initially known as a country music artist, after her musical collaboration with (and subsequent marriage to) rock producer Robert "Mutt" Lange, her music veered towards pop, with huge commercial success following. Her album The Woman in Me caught fire due to singles like "Any Man of Mine" and "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" It eventually topped the country charts for months and became a massive crossover on the mainstream charts, peaking at No. 5 and topping out at 12 million sold.

In 1997, Shania Twain released her follow-up album, Come on Over. Selling 172,000 out of the gate and peaking at No. 2, the album was seen by many at first as a disappointment, given the massive success of her last effort. But slowly, the album started racking up sales. It never hit the top spot, but with the single "You're Still the One", sales skyrocketed. Songs like "Don't Be Stupid," "Man! I Feel like a Woman," "That Don't Impress Me Much," and "From This Moment On" joined the 11 songs that eventually saw release as singles. Over the next two years, the album stayed on the charts, spinning off hit after hit. She toured the globe in support of the album. When the dust finally settled, Come on Over had sold 20 million copies in America and 35 million worldwide, making it the biggest album by a female artist in the United States.

Many newer fans were totally unaware of her country music roots, particularly as singles released outside the United States and Canada featured remixed versions de-emphasising country-style instrumentation. She was voted the sexiest vegetarian alive by a PETA award in 2000.

After having a child in 2001, Shania Twain went back into the studio. Up! was released in November of 2002, making it five years since the world had new material from her. Naturally, she toured again to support it. A double-album, it featured 19 songs in pop mixes and the same 19 songs in country mixes. Internationally the country mixes were replaced by world mixes. Up! debuted at No. 1 to good reviews, selling 874,000 in the first week alone. It charted at the top for five weeks. Despite hit singles like "Gonna Getcha Good", "Up!" and "Forever and for Always", Up! didn't have the staying power of Come on Over. It sold 5 million in America, roughly down 75% from its predecessor. Since it was a double album, it has been certified 10 × Platinum.

In 2004, she decided to release a greatest hits album. It quickly sold 2 million copies in the United States in just a month and a half.

Shania Twain has always seen herself as a songwriter; part of her initial dissatisfaction with the Nashville music scene was her record company's expectation that she would use outside songwriters. She has, in fact, written many of her own songs, such as "From This Moment On", "You're Still the One", "That Don't Impress Me Much", "Any Man of Mine", "The Woman in Me", "Forever and for Always", "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!", and "Party for Two".

Twain currently lives in Switzerland with Lange and their son Eja.

Discography

Up! (2002)
Come On Over International Version (1998)
Come On Over (1997)
The Woman in Me (1995)
Shania Twain (1993)

Awards

Shania Twain has won numerous awards, including "Best Album", "Top Country Artist of the Year", and "Best Songwriter"