Shania Twain is recalling late-night performances that made her uncomfortable and led to her getting stage fright.
The singer shared that she often performed in smoky bars filled with intoxicated customers and had to return to school the morning after her performance. The audience eventually recognized her talent.
Shania Twain grew up in poverty, and she experienced frequent violence at home as a child. The singer’s mother and stepfather reportedly had a troubled marriage. Her parents died in a 1987 car accident. At 22, she took a job at Deerhurst Resort to support herself and her three siblings.
Shania Twain Developed Stage Fright Performing For ‘Intoxicated’ Crowds
Twain said she developed stage fright and was uncomfortable during her early performances because of her environment. She said the bars were filled with “really heavy, thick smoke” because most customers smoked. She also recalled that “most people were intoxicated” during her performances.
The singer said the audience were usually men because of the late performance times. “The majority of the audience were men at that time of night,” she explained. She revealed that she normally performed when the bar was closing around midnight.
The 61-year-old had to balance those performances with her school responsibilities. “I would normally go on at midnight when the bar actually closed, so the environment was inappropriate for my age,” she said. She added that she knew she would be tired the following morning at school.
Twain eventually saw that she was doing well on stage. She was applauded by the audience, and it helped her understand that they appreciated her performances.
She recalled thinking, “Okay, I guess I’m doing something right.” In the cover story interview with American Songwriter, the singer said the early performance experiences prepared her for the challenges of working in Nashville.
The Canadian Singer Had A Difficult Childhood
Twain discussed the physical and emotional scars she suffered from her childhood. During an appearance on Elizabeth Day’s “How To Fail” podcast, she revealed that the experience left lasting marks. “I have lots of scars. I have a lot of scars from cooking,” she said.
She also recalled getting scars from working in the bush with sharp tools. The singer explained that her experiences left her with many emotional scars too. “I’ve been through a challenging childhood and then my open throat surgery,” she added.
Twain, who grew up in Canada, revealed that her family struggled to make ends meet and afford food. She remembered dreaming that someone would come and rescue them during those difficult times.
The Blast noted that her mother and stepfather also had a tumultuous marriage, as Twain reportedly witnessed frequent violence while growing up.
Shania Twain Turns Her Painful Experiences Into Songwriting
The singer has explained that she uses songwriting to process difficult moments. She shared that she often documents her feelings while they are still raw. “I’ll document my feelings, I’ll put things down, they’re very raw, they’re very real, they’re very in the moment,” she said.
Twain explained that she likes to experience her emotions instead of pushing them away. She said she often returns to those notes to be more upbeat. “They’re now reflections of what I’ve been through, but they are on the other side,” she explained.
She described those lyrics as representing “the healed experience with a scar.” This allows her to write about painful memories from a different perspective. The singer also said she has been coming into comfort with herself her whole life, and it has been a process for her.
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‘Little Miss Twain’ Delivered Her Lowest Chart Debut
The songwriter released her latest studio album, “Little Miss Twain,” in July 2026. The record explored parts of her childhood experiences and things she said she would not usually discuss as a commercial songwriter. She described the album as an emotional experience.
“Little Miss Twain” entered the Billboard 200 at No. 131, and 12,000 copies were reportedly sold. It was also the lowest chart debut of the Canadian singer’s career, as “Queen of Me” debuted at No. 10 in 2023, while “Up!” and “Now” reached No. 1
Twain revealed that she was excited and anxious about how listeners would receive the album. She hoped that even one lyric would connect with someone. “Even if you find one lyric that speaks to you or makes you feel something, I’ll be happy,” she wrote on Instagram.
The singer also faced criticism over her appearance and revealing outfits. She addressed the backlash that came from her performances while opening for Harry Styles in London. “My body is not shameable,” she said, adding that body shaming would not affect her.
Shania Twain’s Struggle With Her Changing Appearance
The singer revealed that she struggled with her changing appearance during her 2019 Las Vegas residency. She told The Times that she stopped looking at herself in the mirror because she disliked her body. “I hated my body. I’m like, ‘Oh, I cannot stand this changing body,'” she recalled.
The singer admitted that she tried losing weight through “unhealthy” methods. She shared that she focused on working her body instead of feeding properly. She said she became “malnourished,” and it contributed to injuries while performing.
Twain later said menopause helped her accept the changes in her body. The Blast shared that she also became more comfortable showing her figure publicly. In 2022, she discussed posing topless for the artwork accompanying “Waking Up Dreaming.” “This is me expressing my truth. I’m comfortable in my own skin, and this is the way I am sharing that confidence,” she said.
Shania Twain continues to speak openly about her childhood experiences, music, and confidence.
