Shania Twain

Wonderfully scored a nomination in the category of Musical Event of the Year at the 39th Annual CMA Awards in 2005, Shania Twain has really become a celebrated figure in her homeland for she has been bestowed the Order of Canada, the country's highest honor, on November 18, 2005 for her tireless effort in terminating child hunger. Set to appear on Donald Trump's show, "The Apprentice" in late November of the same year, this striking singer kept paying earnest attention to the world's matter as she has been slated to host a charity auction for the benefit of America's Second Harvest Food Bank, also held in November.

Shania's fascination and love for music have been growing from such an early age. Unlike any other children, little Shania spent much of her time learning to play guitar as well as singing at the local bars, radio, television stations, and community events. In addition, she appeared in CBC's television program, "The Tommy Hunter Show" at the age of thirteen and was also the vocalist of a local band named "The Longshot" during her high school. Singing then has become her main source of living after her parents' death on November 1, 1987, making a turning point in her life since.

Born on August 28, 1965, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, as Eilleen Regina Edwards, Shania was raised by her mother, Sharon Edwards, and her adoptive father, Johnny Twain, an Ojibwa native from Timmins, Ontario. After her parents had passed away due to a car accident, 22-years-old Shania was obliged to support the life of her younger sister and half brothers. Taking along her siblings, she moved to Huntsville, Ontario, and worked as a singer at Deerhurst Resort. In 1991, an entertainment lawyer from Nashville asked her to record a demo tape after hearing about her showcase concert in Canada. Shortly thereafter, she signed a recording contract with Richard Frank of Mercury Nashville Records, changing her original name into "Shania" which means "I'm on my way" in Ojibwa language.

Shania finally released her debut album, a self-titled one, in 1993. Despite being a minor hit in U.S., the album was quite successful in Europe and she was named Rising Video Star of the Year by Country Music Television Europe. It turned out that her first album was listened by a music producer named Robert John "Mutt" Lange who later offered help in working on her second album. By the end of 1993, they decided to get marriage and worked hand-in-hand to write songs in Shania's upcoming album, "The Woman in Me." Their collaboration proved a magnificent result toward the album when it was released in 1995, leapt to the top position of Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart while also reached 5th rank at The Billboard 200. Moreover, the album has amazingly sold for 18 million copies around the world during the year of 1996, being multi platinum besides giving the couple a massive success.

Her third album, "Come on Over" (1997), in the beginning had been seen as her downfall compared to the previous one. Nevertheless, it gradually outnumbered its predecessor, staying on music charts for over two years with its well-known hit singles, such as "You're Still the One", "From This Moment On", "Man! I Feel Like a Woman", and "That Don't Impress Me Much." By the end of 1999, this fabulous album has sold for 20 million records in U.S., therefore making 39 millions worldwide sale, establishing Shania Twain as one of biggest selling artists in the world. Thus, it automatically led Shania to be a new country music phenomenon.

After giving birth to her first son named Eja on August 21, 2001, Shania made her comeback by launching her next album entitled "Up!" in November 2002. It was a double album, which contained 19 songs, mixed in pop and country tunes, making a total sum of 38 mixed songs. Although the album was not as great as the previous ones, it did reached the top position at both charts of The Billboard 200 and Billboard's Top Country Album, having a total sale of 16 million copies worldwide. On November 9, 2004, she released "Greatest Hits" in which she added four new songs featuring Mark McGrath and Billy Currington. To everyone's surprise, this album has sold for 2 million copies in U.S. no later than two months.

Shania Twain is not only one of the most popular country singers in the world, but also she is a talented songwriter who has created her own hits, like "You're Still the One", "The Woman in Me," and "I'm Gonna Getcha Good." She is really an extraordinary musician who also happens to be the best selling female country artist of all time. With five Grammy Awards and the total sale of her albums that reaches 82 million copies worldwide, she is indeed one of the greatest female singers the world ever has.