Although her songs are categorised as "country", I've never thought of Shania Twain as part of country music's "inner circle". She doesn't seem to fit into that tight Nashville clique. Her songs do have a country feel, but I see her more as a cross-over artist in the same vein as Kenny Rogers. And that doesn't go down too well with country's elite crowd! Still, it hasn't done Shania's career any harm at all.
Shania Twain was originally Eilleen Regina Edwards, became Twain after her mother's re-marriage. She later changed her first name to Shania - an Ojibwa Indian word which means "on my way".
The family was poor, often struggling to find enough to eat. Shania, from the age of 8, helped to earn money for the family by singing in clubs and bars after 1:00 AM when they stopped serving alcohol and minors were allowed in. Her father taught her to play guitar, by age ten she was writing her own songs. After leaving school in the early 1980s she moved to Toronto, sang with rock and pop bands there. In 1987 both her parents were killed in an accident. Shania, then 21, took responsibility for her three siblings, aged 13 to 18. Fortunately she was able to continue singing at a nearby vacation resort, a steady job with regular pay.
Once her siblings were away and independent, Shania was able to pursue her singing career in earnest. She eventually met the guy who would become her husband, a successful record producer, Robert John "Mutt" Lange. They worked together on recordings, fell in love and married.They have one son.
With Shania's talent and Lange's expertise and connections her career took off internationally. She became the star we know today with numerous hits and awards to her name. The pair were said to be very different characters. She outgoing, always in the public eye. According to a biography (here) Lange hates the public eye so much he has bought the rights to nearly every photo taken of him and has refused interviews for decades. The couple adhered to an Eastern religion called Sant Mat, which includes spiritual practices such as daily meditation and abstinence from alcohol and drugs. They're also vegetarians.
Sadly, after 14 years the marriage faltered when Lange started an affair with Shania's friend and assistant. Divorce followed, in 2008, leaving Shania devastated and out of the public eye for some time. She's back now though, with a new TV show on the Oprah Winfrey Network. She has also acted as a guest judge on American Idol this season and will act as mentor in tomorrow night's show when the contestants will be singing some of her songs.
Her astrology:
Born on 28 August 1965 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (no time of birth available so chart set for 12 noon).
(NOTE: In an archived post "Virgo Sings Country" I discovered that Shania was one of four female country singers with natal Sun in Virgo, and a few other similarities.
Without a time of birth Moon's position is in question. If born before 8am it was in Virgo, later than that, in Libra. Her looks lead me to suspect Libra- ruled by Venus planet of beauty and the arts including music.
Sun in Virgo, ruled by Mercury links to her natural talent for songwriting, aided by communications Mercuy in Leo the outgoing show-bizzy sign.
Shania was born with an opposition between Saturn and Uranus similar to the one we are experiencing currently, but in 1965 Pluto was conjunct Uranus adding extra weight to this challenging aspect. Shania's natal Sun is loosely conjoined to these two outer planets (9 and 10 degree orbs are a bit wide, but significant with Sun involved). This alignment involving Uranus, planet of the unexpected, could well connect to the upsets in her life story. After a poverty stricken childhood, the accidental death of both parents; after a happy 14-year marriage the shock of her husband's infidelity leading to divorce. Mars (the fighter) in its own sign Scorpio is in harmonious sextile to her natal Sun, reflecting a resilience and determination to overcome obstacles and heartbreak.
Out of curiosity I looked at her ex-husband's chart too. He was born 11 November 1948 in Mufulira, Zambia. This bi-wheel shows both sets of natal planetary placements. Look at the similarities in emphasis, allowing a scant few degrees latitude, which is acceptable: His chart on the inner circle hers on the outer ring. (Click on image to enlarge).
Her Sun 5 Virgo - his Saturn 5 Virgo
Her Mars 5 Scorpio - His Mercury 1 Scorpio
Her Venus 10 Libra - his Venus/Neptune 12/14 Libra
Her Mercury 18 Leo - his Pluto 16 Leo
Her Jupiter 27 Gemini - his Uranus 00 Cancer
Her Neptune 17 Scorpio - his Sun 18 Scorpio.
LIVE IN CHICAGO (Love this one!)
Shania Twain was originally Eilleen Regina Edwards, became Twain after her mother's re-marriage. She later changed her first name to Shania - an Ojibwa Indian word which means "on my way".
The family was poor, often struggling to find enough to eat. Shania, from the age of 8, helped to earn money for the family by singing in clubs and bars after 1:00 AM when they stopped serving alcohol and minors were allowed in. Her father taught her to play guitar, by age ten she was writing her own songs. After leaving school in the early 1980s she moved to Toronto, sang with rock and pop bands there. In 1987 both her parents were killed in an accident. Shania, then 21, took responsibility for her three siblings, aged 13 to 18. Fortunately she was able to continue singing at a nearby vacation resort, a steady job with regular pay.
Once her siblings were away and independent, Shania was able to pursue her singing career in earnest. She eventually met the guy who would become her husband, a successful record producer, Robert John "Mutt" Lange. They worked together on recordings, fell in love and married.They have one son.
With Shania's talent and Lange's expertise and connections her career took off internationally. She became the star we know today with numerous hits and awards to her name. The pair were said to be very different characters. She outgoing, always in the public eye. According to a biography (here) Lange hates the public eye so much he has bought the rights to nearly every photo taken of him and has refused interviews for decades. The couple adhered to an Eastern religion called Sant Mat, which includes spiritual practices such as daily meditation and abstinence from alcohol and drugs. They're also vegetarians. 
Sadly, after 14 years the marriage faltered when Lange started an affair with Shania's friend and assistant. Divorce followed, in 2008, leaving Shania devastated and out of the public eye for some time. She's back now though, with a new TV show on the Oprah Winfrey Network. She has also acted as a guest judge on American Idol this season and will act as mentor in tomorrow night's show when the contestants will be singing some of her songs.
Her astrology:
Born on 28 August 1965 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (no time of birth available so chart set for 12 noon).
(NOTE: In an archived post "Virgo Sings Country" I discovered that Shania was one of four female country singers with natal Sun in Virgo, and a few other similarities.
Without a time of birth Moon's position is in question. If born before 8am it was in Virgo, later than that, in Libra. Her looks lead me to suspect Libra- ruled by Venus planet of beauty and the arts including music.
Sun in Virgo, ruled by Mercury links to her natural talent for songwriting, aided by communications Mercuy in Leo the outgoing show-bizzy sign.
Shania was born with an opposition between Saturn and Uranus similar to the one we are experiencing currently, but in 1965 Pluto was conjunct Uranus adding extra weight to this challenging aspect. Shania's natal Sun is loosely conjoined to these two outer planets (9 and 10 degree orbs are a bit wide, but significant with Sun involved). This alignment involving Uranus, planet of the unexpected, could well connect to the upsets in her life story. After a poverty stricken childhood, the accidental death of both parents; after a happy 14-year marriage the shock of her husband's infidelity leading to divorce. Mars (the fighter) in its own sign Scorpio is in harmonious sextile to her natal Sun, reflecting a resilience and determination to overcome obstacles and heartbreak.
Out of curiosity I looked at her ex-husband's chart too. He was born 11 November 1948 in Mufulira, Zambia. This bi-wheel shows both sets of natal planetary placements. Look at the similarities in emphasis, allowing a scant few degrees latitude, which is acceptable: His chart on the inner circle hers on the outer ring. (Click on image to enlarge).Her Sun 5 Virgo - his Saturn 5 Virgo
Her Mars 5 Scorpio - His Mercury 1 Scorpio
Her Venus 10 Libra - his Venus/Neptune 12/14 Libra
Her Mercury 18 Leo - his Pluto 16 Leo
Her Jupiter 27 Gemini - his Uranus 00 Cancer
Her Neptune 17 Scorpio - his Sun 18 Scorpio.
LIVE IN CHICAGO (Love this one!)
I've always liked this cross-over independent woman, quite amazing.
ReplyDeleteFelt so sad at her betrayal, it must be devastating for her, I know I had the same thing happen. The double whammo.
Interesting charts.
XO
WWW
WWW ~~~ The betrayal was surprising, I think, given the amount of compatibility between the two charts. Human nature is nothing if not unpredictable though. :-)
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