Shania Twain remains one of the most stunning and influential female musicians in the world today. As the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the top-selling music artists of all time, her legacy is firmly cemented in our hearts. Often hailed as the “Queen of Country Pop,” Shania dominated the music scene in the ’90s, becoming a global sensation. However, few are aware of the immense struggles she has endured throughout her life. Before her breakthrough, she faced the hardships of poverty and hunger, and at just 22 years old, an unimaginable tragedy altered the course of her life, thrusting new responsibilities upon her.

A Rocky Childhood

Born Eilleen Regina Edwards on August 28, 1965, in Windsor, Ontario, Shania Twain later adopted the surname of her stepfather, Jerry Twain, after her mother, Sharon, remarried. With her biological father absent during her upbringing, Shania considered Jerry her true father. He not only raised her and her sisters but also legally adopted them. Reflecting on this, Shania once said, “My father (Jerry) went out of his way to raise three daughters that weren’t even his. For me to acknowledge another man as my father, a man who was never there for me as a father, who wasn’t the one who struggled every day to put food on our table, would have hurt him terribly.”

Shania’s childhood was far from easy. She grew up in poverty in the rural town of Timmins, Canada, where her family often struggled to make ends meet. Her stepfather, a full-blooded Ojibway, found it difficult to provide for the family on his modest earnings. As a result, there were times when Shania and her sisters had little to eat, surviving on simple dishes like “goulash,” made of dry bread, boiled milk, and brown sugar. During the harsh Canadian winters, Shania even had to wear bread bags on her feet because her family couldn’t afford proper boots. Despite these hardships, Shania kept her family’s struggles a secret, fearing that authorities might intervene and separate them.

Living in “Survivor Mode”

The instability in Shania’s home was compounded by a tumultuous marriage between Sharon and Jerry. At one point, Shania convinced her mother to leave Jerry, leading them to seek refuge in a homeless shelter in Toronto. However, when Shania was 16, her mother returned to Jerry, and they decided to give their marriage another try.

Shania has often spoken about how the instability of her childhood left her in “survivor mode” well into her adult years. She couldn’t rely on her parents for protection or consistent caregiving.

At the age of eight, Shania began singing in bars to help her family financially. Although it was a challenging experience for such a young girl, she managed to earn up to $20 a night, a significant contribution to her struggling household. “My deepest passion was music and it helped. There were moments when I thought, ‘I hate this.’ I hated going into bars and being with drunks. But I loved the music and so I survived,” she recounted in Shania Twain: The Biography.

Performing in rural bars and retirement homes in Canada helped Shania hone her stage presence and develop her musical talent. By the age of 13, she was ready for a bigger stage and got the opportunity to perform on The Tommy Hunter Show, a legendary country music variety program on CBC Television.

By her early 20s, Shania was a struggling singer-songwriter trying to make her mark in the music industry. She had joined her first band, Longshot, at 16, and later moved to Toronto to pursue her career. Her talent and beauty began to attract attention, and when country singer Mary Bailey saw her perform in Sudbury, Ontario, she was blown away. Bailey, who later became Shania’s manager, recalled, “I saw this little girl up on stage with a guitar and it absolutely blew me away… Her voice reminded me of Tanya Tucker, it had strength and character, a lot of feeling. She’s a star, she deserves an opportunity.”

A Life-Altering Tragedy

In 1987, Shania seemed poised for a breakthrough as a country artist, with Nashville and big opportunities on the horizon. But on November 1, 1987, tragedy struck when her parents were involved in a fatal car accident while driving on a remote logging road. Both Jerry and Sharon lost their lives, leaving behind five children, including Shania, who was 22 at the time.

Devastated by the loss, Shania returned to her hometown of Timmins. Instead of pursuing her music career, she took on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings, who were 13, 14, and 18 years old.

Through all these challenges, Shania Twain has not only survived but thrived, becoming one of the most beloved and enduring figures in music history. Her resilience and talent continue to inspire fans around the world.