Shania Twain fought back tears as she opened up about the start of her music career in a new interview.
The "You're Still the One" singer shared that she took to the stage at a young age to support her family financially.
In a recent CBS News interview, Twain revealed her emotional journey as she reflected on her early years as a singer. The 58-year-old said that despite her reluctance, she started her singing career performing in bars across Ontario, Canada, at 8 years old.
When asked if she really wanted to sing at such a young age, Twain confessed, "Not at all."
While discussing her Las Vegas residency, Twain expressed her distaste for performing in seedy establishments where risqué activities were prevalent.
"I was very uncomfortable with it, and it might have been that I was performing in adult venues, bars," she admitted.
The award-winning singer continued, "Many bars I played had cages. The adults all around me thought I should be a star, the next Tanya Tucker."
During that time, however, Twain was never intrigued by fame, being too young to be captivated by it. In fact, her career goals at the time included being a veterinarian or an architect.
"Music was a passion. It wasn't a profession in my mind. It was something I loved to do best when I was alone," Twain said.
As the conversation unfolded, the "From This Moment On" hitmaker fought hard to suppress the tears welling up inside.
"When my parents were fighting, I'd go to the backyard and start a fire with my guitar and pretend everything went away," she recalled.
Twain shared the overwhelming responsibility she felt after losing her parents and taking on the role of caregiver for her younger siblings.
Tragedy struck when a car accident claimed the lives of her mother, Sharon Morrison, and stepfather, Jerry Twain, in 1987. Her stepfather was allegedly violent to her mother and subjected Shania to abuse.
Just as she was on the verge of a breakthrough at 22, Twain had to put her dreams on hold to take care of her younger siblings following their parents' death.
"It was like I was a single mom overnight. It was a very touch and go period in my life," she said. "I had frostbite many times just by not having the right clothes. I'd have to go down to the river and bring back coolers of water to drink and do the laundry down there by hand."
She continued, "I chopped my own wood, piled my own wood. It was a lot of pressure. I barely slept."
After receiving support from her brothers and sisters, she put together a demo tape to showcase her talent to music industry professionals in Nashville, marking the beginning of her journey towards global stardom.
This pivotal moment paved the way for Twain to ultimately achieve the status of an iconic singing sensation recognized worldwide.
Twain is set to make a comeback to Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas next month as part of her "Come On Over" residency.
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