Shania Twain Co Uk - The UK Shania Site

Shania (it's pronounced Shah-n-eye-ah) released her new single You're Still The One today and looks certain to repeat the success she had in in America, where her first album sold a phenomenal 12 million. The Canadian, now poised for international mega-stardom, marked Valentine's Day with an appearance on the National Lottery television show, singing a love song to her husband and producer "Mutt" Lange. Twain credits him with inspiring the success which has made her only the fourth woman in history to sell over 10 million albums. "Before we met I was just a singer, but he loved my own songs. When somebody believes in you as much as he did it's amazing how your career can blossom. "At first I was so focused on working with Mutt we were just friends. One day I told him I missed him when he wasn't there and that was it! We got married!"

"The odds were against us."

Friends said it wouldn't last when Shania wed the Def Leppard producer only six months after they met in Nashville. "My friends and family were worried 'cos it was so instant. They knew me as a cautious person and here I was marrying a guy I'd just started working with." That was four years ago. "The odds were against us and as we also work together there's no escape! But it's been great - neither of us have looked back." Shania is the daughter of a Ojibway Indian - her name means "I'm on my way". She was brought up in poverty and overcame tragedy to become one of the best-selling female artists of all time. "We were very poor. I wouldn't want to do it again but I'm glad I had that. It teaches you a lot about life," she says. When she was 21 her parents were both killed in a car crash. "That just left me numb. My parents had been so supportive I think it gave me an extra drive to succeed. I really don't want to be categorised as a country singer," says the 32-year-old. "I do embrace country but it's just one thing I do."

"I'm ambitious artistically but not materially."

"When I was growing up my heroes were everyone from The Carpenters to Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight. "Then I was in bar bands so long doing covers I really don't want to limit what I do. I still listen to all sorts. I love Joan Osborne and Paula Cole, but I also listen a lot to Pink Floyd!" She may have sold 12 million albums and had more publicity in the US than the Spice Girls, but Shania Twain remains unimpressed by material success. "We were so poor when I was 10 that making it was living in a brick house and being able to afford roast beef." "I'm ambitious artistically but not materially. I'm not inspired by the success of Celine Dion or Sheryl Crow but they do inspire me artistically - especially Sheryl Crow. She's great!"