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Shania Twain Speaks Out on the Real Reason She Chose to Change Her Name

Shania Twain is a household name for many county music fans, but some may not know that the moniker is not her real name. During a recent interview on Home Now Radio, the Canadian singer spoke out on the real reason she decided to change her name.

“A lot of celebrities are born with a different name than they end up with as a stage name, and I’m one of those people,” Twain told the Apple Music station. “It’s actually a long story. In short, I was born, Eilleen Regina Edwards, and then I was adopted and I became Eilleen Regina Twain. Then I became a professional singer and I needed a stage name that sounded a little less like my grandmother’s name because I’m named after my grandmother, both my grandmothers, Eilleen and Regina. I think, in my mind, I was just not really wanting to be called my grandmother’s name on stage, so I decided to change it to Shania Twain. I met somebody with the name Shania, thought it was beautiful, and Shania Twain was born.”

Twain is the best-selling female country music artist of all time. The 55-year-old is also working on her next album. She hopes to release it later this year.

Growing Up as Eilleen Edwards

Born Eilleen Regina Edwards, she began to expand her musical horizons after graduating from high school. By that time, she had already fronted for a band called Longshot. They covered top-40 hits, according to Walkoffame.com.

Later on, she began taking vocal lessons. She cleaned her coach’s house to pay for the lessons, too. Then, in 1984, Toronto DJ Stan Campbell discovered Eilleen’s incredible voice. According to Twain’s biography, the DJ told the local media that “Eilleen possesses a powerful voice with an impressive range. She has the necessary drive, ambition, and positive attitude to achieve her goals.”

It wasn’t too long afterward that Shania Twain was born.

Shania Twain Gets Her Big Break

Shania’s big break came after a bout of tragedy. In 1987, both of Twain’s parents were killed in a car accident. Afterward, Shania began taking care of her two siblings and sang in order to pay the bills.

In 1993, Twain was signed to Mercury Nashville Records. The label launched her star-studded career. Prior to the release of her self-titled album in 1993, Twain sang on several other Mercury records. They include Jeff Chance’s “Walk Softly on the Bridges” and Sammy Kershaw’s “Haunted Heart.”

Within three years, Twain would be country music’s next big superstar. She released “The Woman in Me” in 1997. Of the 12 tracks on the album, eight were released as singles. The album’s first single, “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under” went to number-11 on the Billboard Top 100 charts. Her first Country Top 10 hit came when she released “Any Man of Mine” that same year.