Introduction
Shania Twain on the Turning Point of Her Life (1995 Interview, CBC Archives)
In this 1995 interview, Shania Twain reflects on her lifelong love of singing, describing how from as young as five or six she would practice harmonies with records by the Carpenters and The Mamas and the Papas. Even then, she avoided the melody, always seeking out the more challenging parts.
Her life, however, changed dramatically at age 21 when her parents were killed in a car accident. This tragedy forced her into maturity, as her younger brothers (aged 13 and 14) and sister moved in with her. For a time, they all lived together, supporting one another through the grief. Shania acknowledges she did not “raise” them alone, but as the older sister, she carried significant responsibility. This period, though difficult, shaped her resilience and sense of responsibility.
To support the household financially, Shania performed at the Deerhurst Resort, singing mainly cover songs. She admitted it wasn’t the career music she dreamed of, but it paid the bills. Still, she continued writing original songs in the background. Once her siblings grew older and moved on, she decided to take her chance at a recording career, shifting from being a performer of covers to pursuing her own material.
She explains that writing her own songs was the key to long-term success, and while her career initially felt uncertain, once things began to take off, it all happened very quickly—almost overwhelmingly so. Despite the fame, awards, and success, she often looked back in disbelief at how far she had come from her humble beginnings in Timmins, Ontario.
By the end of the interview, Shania expressed both relief and gratitude—relief that years of hard work were finally paying off, and gratitude that she was able to follow the path she had dreamed of since childhood.