Singer Shania Twain gets Hollywood star

LOS ANGELES: Canadian country pop diva Shania Twain was honored with a star on Hollywood's storied Walk of Fame on Thursday, and voiced surprise that she had come so far.

"I mean, why is a girl from Timmins, Ontario, standing here, getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?" the Grammy-winner asked. "I really don't know... it's a small miracle, to be honest, that I am here today."

Twain, who just published her memoirs and launched a new TV show, was joined by veteran actress Bo Derek to receive the star, the 2,442nd to grace the sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard.

Born Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, she and her two sisters were adopted by her mother's second husband, Jerry Twain, who legally changed their last names to his.

Twain began singing in bars when she was eight years old to help her family make ends meet. At 13, she performed on the Canadian TV series the "Tommy Hunter Show" and was in several bands before leaving high school.

Her mother and stepfather died in a car crash in 1987, when she returned to her hometown of Timmins to care for her younger siblings, but Twain released a self-titled debut album in 1993 that reached 67th on the US country charts.

Her big break came with her second album "The Woman In Me" in 1995, which went on to sell more than 12 million copies, and won her a Grammy Award in 1996 for best country album.

The Hollywood honor came five months after the 45-year-old tied the knot with Frederic Thiebaud, two years after splitting with her husband of 14 years Robert Lange -- who allegedly had an affair with Thiebaud's then-wife.

Twain and music producer Lange had married in 1993, six months after meeting. Living between homes in New Zealand and Switzerland, the couple had a son who was six when they separated. (AFP)

Shania Twain: 'I have lost ability to sing'

Shania Twain has revealed that she has damaged her vocal chords to the point where it has become nearly impossible for her to sing.

The star, who has topped the US album charts twice, claimed in March that she lost the desire to "express" herself through song after discovering that her ex-husband Robert 'Mutt' Lange was having an extramarital affair.

"I have lost my ability to express myself and my ability to sing," she said at the time. "I was slowly losing my voice and... my confidence. Now, my marriage was slowly breaking down too."

In a new interview with E! News, Twain admitted that the stress of her personal life prevented her from effectively taking care of her voice.

"I had reached a point in my life where there was a bottleneck, physically, in my throat," she said. "Something had to give."

After the physical pain became too much to bear, the musician sought help from doctors and was diagnosed with dysphonia, an impairment of the vocal chords.

"I've only just discovered what's wrong," Twain said. "Next comes rehabilitation, which will take a long time. Physical rehabilitation, voice therapy, learning how to breath again… and the singing will come."

Twain has opened up frequently in recent months about the emotional trauma caused by her ex-husband's affair, telling Oprah Winfrey recently that she "didn't want to live" after learning the truth of his relationship with her former friend Marie-Anne Thiebaud.

After divorcing Lange, Twain eventually found comfort with Thiebaud's own former husband Frederic, with the pair eventually marrying in January.

Her series Why Not? with Shania Twain continues Sunday on OWN.

Shania Twain 'stalker' arrested at Junos

A man accused of stalking Shania Twain has been arrested after showing up at the Juno Awards in Toronto, where the singer was receiving a special award.

Dr Giovanni 'John' Palumbo was picked up by authorities at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday night after being recognised by someone purported to be a member of Twain's entourage, reports the Ottawa Citizen.

Prior to this latest incident, Palumbo had been previously charged with criminally harassing the country music star but the claim was withdrawn when Twain did not appear in court to provide testimony.

A condition of his release was that he's required to stay at least 500 yards away from the star and is barred from travelling to Toronto unless he is attending a surgeon's college.

In a separate matter, Palumbo faces outstanding charges of threatening his ex-wife and was also ordered by the judge in that case to stay away from Twain.

Earlier this week, Palumbo appeared in front of a justice of the peace after being apprehended by police at the Juno Awards and is to be charged with three counts breaching the bail conditions set in his ongoing threatening case.

The justice of the peace ordered that Palumbo is to remain jailed until Friday, when a bail hearing will be held in a Toronto court.

Singer Shania Twain weds on New Year's Day

LOS ANGELES: Country pop diva Shania Twain celebrated New Year's Day by getting married Saturday, in a private ceremony on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, her manager said.

Twain tied the knot with Frederic Thiebaud, two years after splitting with her husband of 14 years Robert Lange -- who allegedly had an affair with Thiebaud's then wife.

The couple announced their engagement last month, and chose a romantic island location to exchange vows hours after seeing in 2011.

"They were married at sunset in Rincon, Puerto Rico, in front of 40 of their closest family and friends," Twain's manager Jason Owen told said in a statement to cited on the Canadian-born singer's website.

Celebrity bible People magazine reported that the pair became romantically involved in 2009, finding solace after their respective spouses allegedly had an affair which broke up both marriages.

In a letter to fans in December, Twain wrote: "In the last two and a half years of adjusting to life after separation and divorce, I needed to lean on others more often than I was accustomed to.

"I am excited to share some personal news with you: I'm in love!" she said, adding that Thiebaud was "a compassionate, understanding friend and over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this precious friendship."

Twain and music producer Lange had married in 1993, six months after meeting. Living between homes in New Zealand and Switzerland, the couple had a son who was six when they separated.

Much? Complicated.....

Shania Twain Engaged to Ex-Husband of Woman who stole her Ex-Husband

Talk about shocking romantic switches that only happen in the movies! After Shania Twain was cheated by her husband of 14 years, Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange, over her ex-BFF Marie-Ann Thiebaud, the singer is now happily engaged with Thiebaud’s ex-husband, Frederic Thiebaud.

Due to their depressions over their ex-hubbies, the two turned to each other for support. This unlikely friendship blossomed until the two got finally hitched. Frederic is a 40 year old Swiss business executive working in Nestle. Twain announced that he asked her to marry him two months ago while they are in Switzerland.The engagement, however, became only known to the public after Twain showed up in New York wearing her engagement ring. Lange left the singer two years ago after he had supposedly fallen for Marie-Ann who was, ironically, Twain’s best friend. During that time, Marie-Anne denied that she was the cause of the divorce, saying that there are a lot of factors and that she is not the sole reason of the couple’s falling apart.Soon after the scandal, Frederic and Twain were seen travelling around the world like in Canada and Florida. The two denied their relationship at first, saying that they are just friends who can relate to each other. In summer 2009, however, Twain finally admitted that they have a deeper kind of relationship in her official website.

Shania Twain, Billy Joel 'not dating'

Washington: Shania Twain's representative has shot down reports that the country star is dating Billy Joel.

According to the National Enquirer, Twain and Joel enjoyed a string of top secret dates, suggesting that they're an item.
However, Twain's representative has dismissed the reports, insisting, "The story is not true", reports Contactmusic.

Twain has been romantically linked to Frederic Thiebaud since splitting from her husband Robert "Mutt" Lange last year.

Joel, on the other hand, has been introducing Deborah Dampiere as his girlfriend since breaking up with wife Katie Lee recently.