Introduction
Shania Twain, one of the best-selling female country artists of all time, has lived a life filled with both dazzling success and deep personal tragedy.
Born Eilleen Regina Edwards in 1965 in Ontario, Canada, Shania never knew her biological father. Her mother later remarried, and Shania took the surname of her stepfather, Jerry Twain. However, life at home was far from safe. Shania has publicly shared that she endured physical and emotional abuse from Jerry, and also suffered sexual abuse at his hands during her childhood. Despite this horrific reality, she kept silent for years, trying to protect her younger siblings and her mother, Sharon, who was also frequently beaten.
Growing up in poverty, Shania began singing in bars at the age of 8 to help support her family. After finishing high school, she continued to pursue music, but tragedy struck again in 1987 when her parents died in a car accident, forcing Shania, then just 22, to take care of her younger siblings.
Eventually, her talent led to fame. In 1993, she married producer Robert “Mutt” Lange, who helped her transform into a global superstar. Together, they created some of the most successful albums in country-pop history, including Come On Over. However, in 2008, her world collapsed again when she discovered that Lange had been having an affair with her best friend and personal assistant, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.
The betrayal devastated her, and Twain described feeling “so broken” she didn’t want to go on. Around the same time, she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which damaged her vocal cords and forced her to stop singing for years.
Despite these trials, Shania Twain made a stunning comeback. In a twist of fate, she eventually fell in love with Frédéric Thiébaud, the ex-husband of the woman who had betrayed her. They married in 2011, and Shania has since returned to music, regaining her voice and confidence after nearly a decade of silence.
Shania Twain’s life is a story of survival. Behind her glamorous stage persona is a woman who endured abuse, poverty, heartbreak, and illness—and still found the strength to rise again. Her courage continues to inspire millions around the world.