Shania Twain was a household name in the 1990s, recording the best-selling album by a woman, but then she vanished for 15 years. While many thought she took time off to heal from a voice-threatening illness, the reality was far darker. Born Eilleen Regina Edwards on August 28, 1965, in Ontario, Canada, Shania’s life was marred by poverty, abuse, and trauma. Her early years were spent in dire poverty, with an abusive stepfather and a mother who struggled to cope. Shania was forced to perform in bars at just eight years old to help support her family.
Tragedy struck again when Shania’s parents died in a car accident when she was 22, leaving her to care for her siblings. Her rise to fame was not immediate, but by 2002, she was a superstar in country music. However, in 2003, she began losing her voice due to Lyme disease, leading to a lengthy hiatus. During this time, Shania also discovered her husband’s infidelity with her close friend, a betrayal that devastated her.
In a twist of fate, Shania found love again with Frédéric Thiébaud, the ex-husband of the woman who had betrayed her. After years of therapy and recovery, Shania returned to music, releasing new albums in 2017 and 2023, overcoming her past struggles with a renewed sense of strength and resilience.