When Shania Twain first strutted onto the country music scene in the mid-’90s, Nashville didn’t quite know what to do with her. Too pop for country and too country for pop, it was Shania’s unique sound, high octane fashion and air of confidence that saw her re-write the music rulebook.
Nearly three decades later, the industry has finally caught up, and Shania remains a north star for artists daring to stretch genre boundaries.
Inspired by artists who were “innovative” and “unique”, Shania tells marie claire Australia, she “was deliberately looking to be myself.”
That authenticity saw the singer skyrocket up the charts. Her 1997 album Come On Over became the best-selling studio album by a female artist. With hits like Man! I Feel Like a Woman! and That Don’t Impress Me Much, she turned empowerment into an anthem.
From Kelsea Ballerini to Taylor Swift, country’s modern wave owes more than a little to Twain’s blueprint: sparkling production, smart songwriting, and a refusal to be boxed in.
“It’s always a great feeling to know that your work is more meaningful than what it means to you yourself,” Twain tells us. “When other people get something from it, then that’s where the reward really is.”
She’s humble about her influence, even when it’s clear she paved the way for those who followed.
“I see it as a great compliment,” she says. “For other artists to feel inspired and to say, ‘Wow, if she can do it, I can do it — and maybe I can even do it better.’”
Beyond the sound, Shania redefined what a country star could look like. Her leopard-print catsuit from the That Don’t Impress Me Much video remains one of pop culture’s most recognisable outfits. Her fearless style choices opened doors for artists to embrace fashion as part of their storytelling.
That confidence was forged early. “I started my career so young, you know, eight years old. I was already singing in local clubs, bars,” Twain recalls.
“So I grew up in a man’s world. I was already prepared. By the time I hit Nashville, I was already adapted and well-adjusted to navigating that.”
Now, in 2025, the Queen of Country Pop is still finding ways to surprise. Teaming up with Australian comedian-musician Tom Cardy for Uber’s playful new campaign, she shows that her sense of humour and self-awareness are as sharp as ever.
“We had a great time in the backseat of that car,” she laughs. “He’s really brilliant and he’s friendly, which is one of the things I do love about Australians.”
In the ad, Tom and Shania rattle off all the weird and wonderful activities one can do when they’re not behind the wheel: “Learning spreken ze dutch,” Tom says before Shania quips, “That don’t impress me… At all.”
It’s classic Shania – blending nostalgia with modernity, country roots with a wink at pop culture and reminder that country-pop icon is always in the driver’s seat, even when she’s in the back.
Watch the full clip below.
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