SHANIA TWAIN BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Shania Twain remains one of the most influential artists in modern music. Born 28 August 1965 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, the Canadian singer-songwriter rose from humble beginnings to become the "Queen of Country Pop," selling more than 100 million records around the world. A survivor of career-threatening vocal damage, Twain rebuilt her voice from scratch — and in 2026 she is riding a powerful comeback wave, with a brand-new album on the shelves and a feature biopic in development.

Early Life

She was born Eilleen Regina Edwards on 28 August 1965 in Windsor, Ontario, and was raised in the small northern town of Timmins. Money was tight, and music was the family lifeline — Twain was singing in local bars from the age of eight to help support her household. In 1987, tragedy struck when her mother and stepfather were killed in a car accident. Just 22 years old, she stepped up to care for her three younger siblings, earning a living by singing at the Deerhurst resort in Muskoka.

Career

Nashville came calling in the early 1990s. Twain signed with Mercury Nashville and released her self-titled debut album in 1993. The following year she married the record's producer, Mutt Lange, and together they forged one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in music history.

The Woman in Me (1995) turned her into a star, selling more than 20 million copies worldwide and winning the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. Then came Come On Over (1997) — the phenomenon. With more than 40 million copies sold, it stands as the best-selling studio album by a female solo artist, a Guinness World Record, and the best-selling country album of all time, collecting four Grammy Awards.

Up! (2002) completed an unprecedented run: another 20-million-plus seller, certified Diamond in the United States, making Twain the first artist in history to score three consecutive Diamond albums. Across her career she has sold more than 100 million records, cementing her status as the best-selling female artist in country music history. Her stage name, Shania, is — according to reports — drawn from the Ojibway language.

At the peak of her fame, her voice began to fail. A tick bite in 2003 led to Lyme disease, which developed into dysphonia — nerve damage to her vocal cords that robbed her of her singing voice. She endured two open-throat surgeries and years of vocal therapy before her voice was fully restored.

Comeback and Recent Work

Twain's return began in earnest with Now (2017), which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was followed by a sold-out world tour. Las Vegas embraced her with three residencies: "Still the One" (from late 2012), the sold-out "Let's Go!" (2021 to September 2022), and the sold-out "Come On Over!" (2024 to February 2025). Her documentary Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl arrived on Netflix in July 2022, and Queen of Me (2023) reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Top Country chart, powering a sold-out global tour of more than 70 shows.

2026 has been a banner year. Twain joined Harry Styles as a special guest for his 12-night Wembley run, released her seventh studio album Little Miss Twain on 24 July 2026, and followed it with the 21-track deluxe edition Little Miss Twain – The Places I'll Go on 9 October 2026. A Shania Twain biopic is also in development, according to reports.

Personal Life

Twain divorced Mutt Lange in 2010 and married Swiss businessman Frédéric Thiébaud in 2011. She is the mother of a son, Eja, born in 2001.

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official music video for "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" below:

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Shania Twain?

Born 28 August 1965, Shania Twain is 61 years old in 2026.

What is her best-selling album?

Her best-selling album is Come On Over (1997), which has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.

What happened to her voice?

A tick bite in 2003 gave her Lyme disease, which led to dysphonia — nerve damage to her vocal cords. Two open-throat surgeries and years of vocal therapy restored her voice.

Is she married?

Yes. She has been married to Swiss businessman Frédéric Thiébaud since 2011.

For more country music stories, read our Luke Combs biography, Lainey Wilson's new single Kinda Love It, and Ella Langley's 'Be Her' lyrics.