Shania Twain is set to take to the iconic Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury on Sunday June 30 after bagging the coveted legends slot.
The Canadian singer-songwriter and Queen of country pop, 58, has sold more than 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time.
However, her dizzying heights of success have also come with struggles – most notably a devastating 20-year health battle with Lyme disease.
From regularly blacking out to fearing she may never sing again, the star has been candid about the hurdles she’s faced, as well as the comeback that meant she could step on a stage once again.
Here, MailOnline looks into the health crisis that left the country music legend ‘mourning’ her own voice.
From regularly blacking out to fearing she may never sing again, the star has been candid about the hurdles she’s faced, as well as the comeback that meant she could step on a stage once again (Pictured in May)
Shania Twain’s dizzying heights of success have also come with struggles – most notably a devastating 20-year health battle with Lyme disease (Pictured in 2022)
How did Shania Twain get Lyme disease?
Shania contracted the tick-borne illness back in 2003 after being bit by a tick while horseback riding in a forest, just before she was about to go on tour.
The singer was experiencing symptoms while performing on the $87M-grossing, 113-date Up! Tour, before she was diagnosed – at first, doctors couldn’t put their finger on what was causing the issues.
Recalling the scary experience in her 2022 rock-doc Not Just a Girl, Shania said: ‘My symptoms were quite scary because before I was diagnosed, I was on stage very dizzy. I was losing my balance, I was afraid I was gonna fall off the stage.
‘I was having these very, very, very millisecond blackouts, but regularly, every minute or every 30 seconds.’
Shania has previously spoken about how it can take some time for the effects of a tick bite to appear in blood work, and by the time she received her diagnosis, her vocal cords were already damaged.
Shania contracted the tick-borne illness back in 2003 after being bit by a tick while horseback riding in a forest, just before she was about to go on tour (pictured January 2022)
The singer was experiencing symptoms while performing on the $87M-grossing, 113-date Up! Tour, before she was diagnosed – at first, doctors couldn’t put their finger on what was causing the issues (Pictured in 2002)
Recalling the scary experience in her 2022 rock-doc Not Just a Girl, Shania said: ‘My symptoms were quite scary because before I was diagnosed, I was on stage very dizzy. I was losing my balance, I was afraid I was gonna fall off the stage’ (Pictured in 2004)
The Canadian singer-songwriter and Queen of country pop, 58, has sold more than 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time (Pictured in May)
What were the effects of Lyme disease on the singer?
Shania’s voice was damaged by the effects of dysphonia as a result of the disease. Dysphonia refers to having an abnormal voice, with an alteration in its quality.
The star said: ‘It was devastating… I felt I had no other choice but to just accept it – in that I would never sing again. I was mourning the expression of my voice.’
She revealed that it was a ‘depressing’ time when she thought she might not be able to take to the stage again, so instead put a lot of her efforts into songwriting.
The That Don’t Impress Me Much hitmaker, who then spent ‘several years getting her voice back on track’, also confessed that looking back she thought she would never be able to release another album again.
After relearning how to sing using physical therapy and vocal warm-ups, Shania released her album Now in 2017, which was her first in 15 years.
Shania eventually found a doctor who was able to help her by operating on her vocal cords, and so she underwent open-throat surgery in 2018 – something she feared would further impact her singing abilities.
Appearing on the Graham Norton Show in February 2023, she reflected on the surgery.
The Queen of Country Pop explained: ‘The operation was very invasive, and I’ve got a big scar that I am proud of. I’m very happy to have a scar rather than no voice.
‘The surgery was a miracle, and I am so grateful. Going back into a studio after the operation was a discovery and I was re-learning my voice.’
Shania Twain revealed it was ‘depressing and devastating’ when she thought she might not be able to sing again after contracting Lyme disease and having open-throat surgery
Shania’s voice was damaged by the effects of dysphonia as a result of the disease 9Pictured in 2007)
When did Shania Twain make her comeback?
Shania released her album Now in 2017, which was her first in 15 years.
Then, following her operation an after taking some time away from the spotlight to recover, Shania made her music comeback, complete with a new gravelly tone to her voice, which she now believes is ‘kinda sexy’.
Six years after her operation, the star released the album Queen Of Me in 2023, which she describes as ‘very happy, inspired, and celebratory’.
She gushed: ‘These are songs that make me smile and laugh and want to dance and projected myself to where there is sunlight at end of the tunnel.’
Following the album’s release last year, appearing on Lorriane, she said: ‘Now I’m just feeling so grateful that I can sing and express myself’.
Shania Twain’s dizzying heights of success have also come with struggles – most notably a devastating 20-year health battle with Lyme disease (Pictured in March)
Six years after her operation, the star released the album Queen Of Me in 2023, which she describes as ‘very happy, inspired, and celebratory’
Posting a message to X, Shania wrote: ‘The legends slot at GLASTONBURY 2024 – Another jewel in my crown!! I feel so honoured and so excited about this one!’
She added: ‘Until I got to the bottom of why I was having a problem with my voice, there wasn’t much I could do about it.
‘It took a long time and I did believe I would have to accept at some point I was never going to be able to sing again.
‘Thankfully I persevered and I’m making records again and putting on concerts.’
Now, the superstar is set to perform at Glastonbury – she referred to getting booked into the legends slot as an ‘honour’ and ‘accolade’.
