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Later,
she spent summers working with her father as a foreman of a
dozen-man reforestation crew in the Canadian bush, where she learned
to wield an axe and handle a chainsaw as well as any manjack. In the
winter season, she would sing in clubs and do as many television and
radio performances as often as her schooling would allow.
At age 21, Shania lost her parents to an
automobile accident. She then took  on the task of raising her three
younger siblings. She managed to keep the household going with a job
at Ontario’s Deerhurst Resort, which not only provided for her new
family responsibilities but also gave her an education in every
aspect of theatrical performance, from musical comedy to Andrew
Lloyd Webber to Gershwin, an experience quite different from the bar
gigs she grew up doing. After a couple years the kids came into
their own, lightening the load of her responsibilities.
It was 1990, and she was on her own. Shedding her real name, Eilleen,
she adopted the Ojibway name of Shania, meaning “On my way”.
Shania’s way resulted in a demo tape of original music and a road
map to Nashville. Although Shania was signed on the basis of her
original material, her self-titled debut album of 1993 featured only
one of her songs, the feisty “God Ain’t Gonna Getcha For
That”.
Shania and Mutt met face to face in 1993, and were wed in December,
by which time they’d written half an album’s worth of tunes
together. As the following year unfolded, they traveled (and wrote)
their way across the U.S., Canada, England, Spain, Italy, and the
Caribbean. They began to lay down basic tracks for the new album in
Nashville, later recording overdubs and mixing in Québec.
Her self-titled debut album appeared in 1993. It was followed by
“The Woman In Me”, released in 1995, in which Shania found her
true voice as a writer and  performer. By then she had met and
married Mutt Lange, famed producer of such rock acts as The Cars,
Def Leppard, and Bryan Adams, and the two collaborated on all the
songs on “The Woman In Me,” which won a Grammy for Best Country
Album and would become the best-selling album by a female artist in
country history. Shania struck gold (and platinum) again on her
third album, “Come On Over”, released in 1997, which again
launched numerous international hits, including “Don’t Be
Stupid”, “Love Gets Me Every Time”, and “You’re Still The
One”.
As much success as Shania has had as adult, however, she knows would
not be poised a performer today had it not been for her experiences
as a child. “I found that the most difficult thing about being a
child professional was that I had a hard time being taken
seriously—as an artist.” For that reason, Shania has taken the
extraordinary gesture of sponsoring a series of youth talent
contests in cities that are hosting her world tour. Following each
contest, Shania will invite the winner to appear alongside her on
stage where the young artist (under 18) will perform a solo
rendition of “What Made You Say That?” the first single released
off Shania’s debut album. “I thought that song would be the most
appropriate”, she says, “since it’s the first song I recorded
and the one that gave me my break.” In taking this action,
Shania’s goal is to allow fans in each community see and support
their local talent. “I focus specifically on youth”, she says,
“because I find that young people have the most difficult time
getting opportunities. They’re not as independent. They’re
relying on their parents to drive them around. They’ve got to miss
school sometimes.” Also, “Most adults think that young
performers will grow out of their fascination. Most people think
it’s a hobby or a phase.” she says. “But often they’re
wrong. I think it’s important that these young people get the
respect they deserve as artists. I’m just trying to do my part and
say, ‘Hey, after all that’s how I got started.’”
This article appears in Shania's '98 & '99 tour programs
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