Shania Twain

Shania Twain’s long, slow road to fame included poverty, many

disappointments, and a terrible tragedy. But when she finally

succeeded, she set records that would be the envy of any singer.

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Life was tough for little Eileen Edwards (Shania Twain’s original name) and her family
in the northern Ontario town of Timmins. Her mother and stepfather did not work much
and the family often went hungry. Her mother once drove the children more than 400
miles to get help from a food bank in Toronto.
Eileen grew up working hard - hunting, chopping wood, and helping her stepfather plant
trees. But she had a special way of earning some extra money: Eileen could really sing.
When she was as young as eight years old, she would go into town late at night and sing
for coins people would throw for her. She began to write her own songs and dream of
becoming a rock star.
Eileen performed in bands as a teenager, touring all over Ontario and developing her
talent. Times were still tough; sometimes she could only pay for singing lessons by
cleaning her vocal coach’s house.
The young singer was hit by one disappointment after another. Twice she went to the
U.S. to try out for record companies, but came home empty-handed. Little jobs singing
on other people’s albums never led to a big break. But Eileen kept on trying, again and
again.
Then, Eileen’s parents were killed in a car accident. There was no one to take care of her