Shania Twain Was Always Hungry Living in Small Rural Home — Now She Feeds Thousands of Kids Enjoys Farm Life

• Shania Twain lived in a small rural house and was constantly hungry due to her family’s poverty.

• She earned millions from her music career, fed thousands of children, and enjoyed returning to her childhood home.

• She now lives on a ranch with her husband of 12 years.

Shania Twain dubbed the “Queen of Country Pop,” continues to enthrall audiences with her powerful voice and dynamic live shows. Her chart-topping hits launched her to stardom and wealth, however, the singer’s path to success wasn’t easy.

Before achieving fame and wealth in the entertainment industry, Twain had a humble upbringing in a poverty-stricken rural home in Canada, where she and her family struggled with hunger and financial hardships.

Twain’s upbringing in Timmins, Ontario, was not a stroll in the park. Her humble abode was a split-level dwelling, with her family residing on the house’s lower floor while another clan occupied the upper half. She was forced to share a bedroom with her sister due to living on the house’s bottom floor.

Twain’s struggle, however, was more than just being confined to a small and limited space. She faced financial hardship, and to survive, she had to work double shifts—first as a burger slinger at McDonald’s after high school, then belting out tunes as a singer in various bars in her hometown.

Growing up, Twain was filled with hardships mainly due to her dysfunctional family. Her adoptive father was cruel and often mistreated her mother physically and emotionally.

Twain recalled that the abuse did not end with her mother; he also turned his violent behavior on her. She looked up to her father as a role model as a child, so realizing he was a violent man shocked her.

According to Twain, her mother and father frequently fought because of insufficient financial constraints for her and her other siblings. Their parents couldn’t even feed them properly.

She recalled going without food on several occasions because they never had enough money to pay the necessary bills and rent. She was always hungry, living in her small rural home.

“It’s very hard to concentrate when your stomach’s rumbling,” said Twain about her childhood in poverty. She admitted to being envious of the other children’s meals but never expressed her feelings.

According to her, she was too embarrassed to ask for help and say, “You know, I’m hungry. Can I have that apple that you’re not going to eat?” She lacked the courage to do so.

Twain‘s difficulties persisted when her mom and dad tragically died in a car crash in 1987. After her parents passed away, she was left to raise her three younger siblings in a small rural town.

However, despite all of her challenges, Twain never gave in to defeat and eventually became a famous local performer in nightclubs and bars. All of her hard work paid off.

She has become one of the most prominent country musicians of all time, earning thousands and millions from her famous songs such as “You’re Still the One,” “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and “From This Moment On.”

Twain’s illustrious career has allowed her to leave cramped living behind, and she now has an impressive list of spacious residences, including stunning properties in Switzerland and New Zealand.

Even though she and her family endured many hardships while living in her childhood hometown, Twain still enjoyed returning and spending time there.

Timmins honored Twain by declaring August 15, 1996, “Shania Twain Day.” Upon her return to her hometown, a large and warm reception from the crowd surprised the acclaimed musician.

Many of Twain’s admirers who attended the event braved the bad weather just so they could see the renowned country singer in person. An avid fan exclaimed that Twain was “the greatest country singer in the world.”

Twain remarked at the time that having the opportunity to leave her hometown in pursuit of her dreams was incredible. Although she considered herself an “everyday person,” she was “treated like a queen” when she returned home.

The honor came just a few months after Twain won the Grammy for Best Country Album for her hit song “The Woman in Me.” The album reportedly sold more than 12 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Twain never forgot about her struggles, so now that she’s a famous millionaire, she donates a chunk of her earnings to feed thousands of children.

Feeding Thousands of Children

Twain skyrocketed to fame and has been showered with recognition for years. Her impressive accolades included 27 BMI Songwriter Awards, 11 Billboard Music Awards, 6 American Music Awards, and five Grammys.

Canada honored Twain in 2003 by inducting her into their Walk of Fame, and Hollywood followed suit in 2011, adorning their star-studded sidewalk with a star in Twain’s name.

With over 85 million copies of her albums sold, Twain is the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

With record-breaking sales, Celebrity Net Worth estimated Twain’s net worth at around $400 million. Despite her fame and fortune, the country singer remains humble and generous toward those in need.

Now she feeds thousands of kids. In 2000, Twain created a hunger-relief campaign with the help of two organizations called the Second Harvest Kid’s Cafe in the U. S. and the Canadian Living Foundation.

Helping those in need was always one of her top priorities. As a young girl, she aimed to identify families struggling with food insecurity and provide them with a substantial food supply.

Twain’s efforts included donating proceeds from her song “God Bless The Child” to two organizations in the U.S. and Canada. Each organization received $50,000 and a portion of the money from T-shirt sales from her tour.

She also used her 166-date world tour as a platform to raise awareness, performing the song and giving away concert tickets for a noble cause. She also gave private donations totaling tens of thousands of dollars to help the cause.

For Twain, food is a “luxury.” The generous act came from Twain’s personal experience, in which she would go to school without lunch and go to bed hungry due to poverty.

She remembered her father making her mustard sandwiches to take to school, but they weren’t enough for her. To save herself from embarrassment, she pretended she was not hungry or that she forgot to bring her lunch.

Twain described her experience of living poor in an open letter to fans published in a Canadian magazine several years ago. She wrote:

“We didn’t always know what, when, or where our next meal was going to come from. Or when the heat was going to get turned back on in the middle of a Northern winter.”

The country-pop singer has vowed to help fight hunger and keep kids from going through similar difficulties she did. With the resources she has now, she continues to support numerous families.

In 2022, Twain raised over $150,000 for the benefit of impoverished children through her Shania Kids Can Charity Foundation. During her three-year residency in Las Vegas, she donated $1 from every ticket sold to support the cause.

The goal of the foundation is to set up a program in primary schools to find and help students who are having trouble because of the unpleasant environment at home or because they don’t qualify for social services.

Twain believed that some children might be facing abuse or neglect at home, while others may struggle with personal issues outside of school that impact their academic success.

She emphasized that family problems such as economic hardships, single-parent households, substance abuse, domestic violence, overworked parents, and illness can hinder a child’s ability to perform well in school. She added:

“These kids often go to school tired, hungry, emotionally stressed, and not as ready to learn as the other students.”

Twain also believes primary-aged children who are nurtured and taught responsibility and confidence, despite personal challenges, will have a brighter future and become positive contributors to society.

Living on a Ranch with Husband of 12 Years

As she showers generosity to those less fortunate, Twain is one of the musical icons who holds immense pride in her origins. Despite rising to fame, she has never forsaken her humble beginnings in Canada.

In fact, she has taken a piece of her little hometown with her, embodied in the form of a sprawling ranch in the heart of Las Vegas, which is just one of the multiple properties she has owned worldwide.

Twain’s Las Vegas farm boasts a spacious garden. In a recent Instagram post, she captivated online followers with her beautiful property, where she sat on a rock as she basked in the sun with her furry companion on her lap.

In her caption, she wrote that she seized the chance for a “little reflection” amidst all the thrilling experiences that came her way. She also mentioned how lucky and grateful she feels to be able to pursue her passion every day.

In an appearance on the “Live with Kelly and Ryan” show in 2019, Twain revealed that her farm in Las Vegas was her “first American home.” She talked about the joy she experienced while decorating it to fit her taste. She added:

“I always have to have my horses with me and my dogs… I just had to keep my family around me, and my animals are part of my family.”

She truly enjoys farm life. Twain expressed feeling at home in Las Vegas, which she described as having a relaxed atmosphere. She also mentioned enjoying hosting friends for gatherings at her farm.

Twain lives in her Las Vegas home with her second husband, Frédéric Thiébaud. Before Thiébaud, the famous singer was married to her first spouse, record producer Robert Lange from 1993 to 2010.

Twain’s heart was shattered when she learned about Lange’s affair with her close friend Marie-Ann Thiébaud, who also happened to be Thiébaud’s ex-wife.

The betrayal from her close friend and the latter’s secret relationship with Lange left Twain feeling devastated, and she referred to it as a “very low period” in her life.

Thiébaud, who also experienced heartbreak, went through the healing process with Twain. Their shared emotional pain brought them closer and eventually led to their love for each other.

According to Twain, when she was finally divorced, she declared she would never marry again. She admitted to being one of those who could have quickly composed many songs about never falling in love again.

However, she realized that Thiébaud’s love was undeniable. The pair tied the knot on New Year’s Day in 2011, a year after her divorce from Lange. The couple is now happily married for 12 years.

The award-winning singer couldn’t be more in love. She describes their relationship as “rare” and attributes their strong bond to their shared experiences and deep scars. She revealed:

“We were a big part of each other’s healing.”

The loving pair shares a blended family. Twain’s son Eja is from her relationship with Lange, while Thiébaud’s daughter Joanna is from his previous marriage. The couple has become empty nesters as their children pursue their own interests.

Twain has since found peace by moving on from her past marriage. She seems to be on good terms with Lange now, as she appreciates him more for his professional contributions to her successful career.

Twain has indeed achieved her redemption in her own time, moving from a cramped living space to a spacious house, from being hungry to having an abundance of food and sharing meals, and from being heartbroken to experiencing love.

Twain’s journey from poverty to stardom is a testament to the power of hard work and determination. Despite her hardships, she never lost sight of her goal and continued chasing her dreams.

The success has changed not only Twain’s life but the lives of many others through her philanthropic efforts. She truly is an excellent example of what can be achieved through perseverance and generosity.