Shania Twain has reflected on her remarkable journey from singing in bars as a child to becoming one of the biggest stars in country music while hosting the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards.
The 61st ACM Awards, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, marked Twain’s first time hosting the prestigious ceremony — and the emotional moment came as the country icon prepares to release her deeply personal new album, Little Miss Twain.
Looking back on her decades-long career during the ceremony, Twain reminded audiences just how long her road to success really was.
“Exactly 30 years ago, I was honoured with my first ACM Award. That was a big, huge night for me. The ‘Come On Over’ album is about to turn 30, okay? Ahhhh!!!” she said.
The singer then reflected on her humble beginnings growing up in Timmins, Ontario, revealing that success did not come quickly despite starting music at an incredibly young age.
“I started singing in bars when I was 8 years old, and I didn’t have my first top ten hit until I was 30. The power of music explains how a kid from Timmins, Ontario went from singing in smokey bars to this very moment.”
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The speech carried even deeper meaning given the personal themes behind Twain’s upcoming album, which revisits the hardships and heartbreak that shaped her long before global fame arrived.
Twain has recently spoken about the devastating loss of her mother, Sharon, and stepfather, Jerry, who were killed in a car accident in northern Ontario in 1987 when the singer was just 22 years old.
At the time, Twain had not yet secured a record deal and had reportedly begun studying computer programming as a backup plan in case music failed to work out.
The tragedy completely altered the course of her life. Rather than pursuing stardom immediately, Twain stepped in to care for her younger siblings, placing many of her own dreams on hold while grieving the sudden loss of her parents.
Years later, she would admit she completely fell apart emotionally after learning of the accident.
Despite the unimaginable setback, Twain persevered and eventually became one of the most successful female artists in music history.
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Her albums The Woman in Me and Come On Over transformed country-pop and produced massive crossover hits including Man! I Feel Like a Woman!, You're Still the One and That Don't Impress Me Much.
Come On Over would later become the best-selling studio album ever released by a female artist, cementing Twain’s place as one of country music’s defining stars.
Her influence extended far beyond country music, helping pave the way for future crossover artists by blending traditional country storytelling with huge pop hooks and arena-sized production.
Shania Twain will be performing on the 7th of July 2026 in Limerick, joined by special guest-none other than the iconic singer-songwriter behind the hit song 'Murder on the Dancefloor', Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
