Singing in bars from a young age, she found moments of escape and self-worth. But nothing could prepare her for the burdens she would face when, at just a young age, she was left to raise her siblings alone.

From her earliest years, she knew what it was like to live without. Money was always tight, and her family often lacked essentials like food, heating, and even reliable lighting.

She quickly became aware of how different her life was from that of her classmates. Going to school without lunch, she would watch her peers and wonder if they’d leave an apple untouched, hoping she might take it later.

She’d take her guitar and retreat into the forest, where she’d light a small fire and lose herself in the songs she played. The melodies helped her forget the emptiness in her stomach.

By age eleven, she had a special permit to perform earlier in the evening, though she wasn’t paid until age fourteen. That was after she began working at McDonald’s, a job she called her “saving grace,” as it offered her both a paycheck and regular meals — luxuries she had long dreamed of.

Her routine of attending school, working at McDonald’s, and singing in bars left her utterly exhausted. Yet, she persevered, fueled by a deep love for music and a hope that it could one day bring her a better life.

Her struggles at home ran deeper than poverty. The presence of her stepfather, who legally adopted her and her siblings, cast a darker shadow over her childhood. He was not just harsh but abusive, creating an environment of fear and pain that permeated her daily life.

She remembers learning to fend for herself against his violence, once summoning the courage to throw a chair at him in self-defense. “I think a lot of that was anger, not courage,” she later reflected, describing how her survival instincts clashed with the constant fear she felt.

This abusive environment left her feeling isolated, eroding her sense of trust and making it difficult for her to believe she deserved safety or kindness. Sadly, the physical abuse was only part of her trauma.

For years, she kept the secret of this deeper violation, carrying the weight of that trauma in silence. Only recently did she feel able to share her story publicly, recognizing the importance of speaking up.

She never got the chance to confront her stepfather, as he’d meet an untimely end. This loss would bring her complex grief; the man who had caused her so much harm would leave her with unresolved trauma and a lifetime of unanswered questions.

At just twenty-two, she experienced a tragedy that shifted the entire course of her life. Her mother and stepfather died suddenly in a car accident, leaving her to care for her younger siblings. As the second eldest, she was now responsible for raising them, stepping into a role she had never anticipated.

With her role as a singer came pressure to project a polished and feminine image, something she hadn’t focused on before. But now, it was a requirement for her job. Navigating this public role came with many challenges.

Rising Above and Building a Career

As her siblings grew older and more independent, she began to focus on her music career, hoping to turn her lifelong talent into something lasting. Determined to make a breakthrough, she recorded a demo and sent it to various record labels.

Shortly after signing with the label, she crossed paths with a renowned music producer. He became her collaborator and, eventually, her husband. Together, they created music that resonated widely, blending her unique voice with his co-writing and production expertise.

Despite her rising success, she faced a significant setback years later when she began to lose her voice. It wasn’t until a decade after the symptoms first appeared that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which had affected the nerves in her vocal cords.

Betrayal, Heartbreak, and Finding New Love

For fourteen years, her partnership with music producer Robert “Mutt” Lange yielded hit songs, a son named Eja D’Angelo Lange, and a marriage that had once seemed unbreakable. That was until she discovered that Lange had been unfaithful.

Amid the heartbreak, she found an unexpected ally in Frédéric Thiébaud — Marie-Anne’s husband, who had been equally blindsided by the affair. At first, their relationship was based on mutual understanding and shared pain.

After years of struggle, heartbreak, and resilience, this young girl from Timmins, Ontario, has grown into a world-renowned music icon — Shania Twain.

Her journey from poverty and abuse to global stardom shows her strength and determination. Through unimaginable hardships, she has found a way to survive and thrive, building a legacy that has inspired many.