Shania Twain (born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Born Eileen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario to Sharon and Clarence Edwards, she grew up as Eileen Twain in Timmins, Ontario after her parents separated when she was two and her mother married Jerry Twain.

Contents

1 Early years 2 Career success 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 DVDs 3.3 Hit singles 4 Awards 5 See also 6 External links

Early years

At the age of 13, Eileen Twain was invited to perform on CBC television's Tommy Hunter Show. During high school in Timmins, she was the vocalist for a local band which covered Top 40 music. When her mother and adoptive father died in a car crash in 1987, Eileen took her two younger brothers and sister to Huntsville, Ontario where she supported the family by performing at a local resort. In 1991, after an entertainment lawyer from Nashville heard her act, she was invited to record a demo tape.

In 1991, when she signed her first recording contract with Mercury Nashville Records, she changed her name to Shania which is an Ojibwa language word meaning "I'm on my way"; her adoptive father was a full-blooded Ojibwa. The city of Timmins later renamed a street for her and built the Shania Twain Museum.

Career success

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 #5 and topping out at 12 million sold.

In 1997, Shania released her follow-up album, Come On Over. Selling 172,000 out of the gate and peaking at #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. Shania toured the globe in support of the album. When the dust finally settled, Come On Over had sold 20 million copies in America and 39 million worldwide, making it the biggest album by a female artist in history.

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.

After having a child in 2001, Shania 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 #1 to good reviews, selling 874,000 in the first week alone. It charted at the top for 5 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 10x Platinum.

In 2004, Shania decided to release a greatest hits album. It got overwhelmingly positive reviews across the board and quickly sold 2 million copies in the US in just a month and a half. To be continued....

Discography

Albums

• Eileen
• Shania Twain (1993), US Sales: 1 million (2 million worldwide)
• The Woman In Me (1995) #5 US, #9 UK - US Sales: 12 million (18 million worldwide)
• Come On Over (1997) #2 US, #1 UK - US Sales: 20 million (39 million worldwide)
• Up! (2002) #1 US, #4 UK - US Sales: 11 million (16 million worldwide)
• Greatest Hits (2004) #2 US, #6 UK - US Sales: 4 million

Total US Sales: 48 million; Worldwide: 82 million

DVDs

• LIVE US Release Date: December 7, 1999
• The Platinum Collection US Release Date: November 6, 2001
• The Specials (feat. "Winter Break" and "Come On Over") US Release Date: November 20, 2001
• Live in Chicago US Release Date: November 18, 2003
• Up! Close and Personal US Release Date: November 9, 2004

Hit singles

(in alphabetical release)

• from "The Woman in Me" (1995)
  • "Any Man Of Mine" #1 US
  • "Home Ain't Where Is Heart Is (Anymore)" #28 US
  • "(If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here!" #1 US
  • "No One Needs To Know" #1 US
  • "The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You)" #14 US
  • "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" #11 US
  • "You Win My Love" #1 US

• from "Come on Over" (1997)
  • "Come On Over" #6 US
  • "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)" #6 US
  • "From This Moment On" #4 US
  • "Honey, I'm Home" #17 US
  • "Love Gets Me Every Time" #1 US
  • "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" #6 US
  • "Rock This Country!" #30 US
  • "That Don't Impress Me Much" #7 US
  • "When" #18 US
  • "You're Still The One" #1 US
  • "You've Got A Way" #13 US

• from "Up!" (2002)
  • "Forever And For Always" #1 US
  • "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" #7 US
  • "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing" #18 US
  • "Ka-Ching!" #1 UK (Europe release only)
  • "She's Not Just A Pretty Face" #9 US
  • "Up!" #11 US
  • "When You Kiss Me" #16 US

• from "Greatest Hits" (2004)
  • "Party For Two" #7 US
  • "Don't!" #25 US

Awards

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

See also

• Crossover Music

External links

• Official website
• ShaniaCafe messageboard
• The Shania Forums
• Team Shania!