Shania Twain Overcame Four Life-Altering Setbacks to Become the Queen of Country Pop

Shania Twain’s rise to stardom is not just a story of talent. It’s a story of grit, survival, and unshakable strength.

Born Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, Twain grew up in poverty and faced abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Music became her refuge, and songwriting, her escape.

At 22, just as she was gaining momentum in her music career, tragedy struck. Her mother and stepfather were killed in a car accident, forcing Twain to move home and raise her younger siblings. Many careers would have ended there. Hers was just beginning.

Years later, another personal blow would shake her world. Her husband and longtime producer, Mutt Lange, the man behind her early chart-topping albums, had an affair with Twain’s close friend. The betrayal ended both a marriage and a creative partnership. Still, Twain found a way forward.

Then came another challenge, a diagnosis of Lyme disease, which severely damaged her vocal cords and left her uncertain she would ever sing again. After multiple surgeries and years of vocal therapy, Twain made a remarkable recovery.

In 2017, she released Now, her first studio album in 15 years. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, solidifying her comeback.

Shania Twain didn’t just return. She reclaimed her place atop the genre she helped redefine. A true Queen of Country Pop, forged through hardship and healed by music.