Flashback: Shania Twain Wins CMA Entertainer of the Year
Watch Reba McEntire emotionally announce Twain's name
By Joseph Hudak | June 10, 2014 5:31 PM
In 1999, Shania Twain was at the peak of her commercial success. Two years prior, she had released the blockbuster country album Come on Over, a record that would sell a staggering 40 million copies worldwide (by comparison, Taylor Swift's best-selling release so far, Fearless, has tallied a little less than 9 million). Featuring hits like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman," "You're Still the One" and "That Don't Impress Me Much," Come on Over became a genre-busting sensation, due in part to a re-released pop mix of the album. An accompanying tour further solidified her as country's most recognizable female superstar.
Still, Twain didn't garner her first — and only — Entertainer of the Year nomination until 1999, competing against Tim McGraw, George Strait, the Dixie Chicks and Garth Brooks, who was angling to three-peat in the category. But when Reba McEntire, the last woman to win the CMA's top award in 1986, was chosen to present, Twain had to feel the odds were on her side.
Which, of course, they were. McEntire, visibly emotional over Twain having ended the 13-year drought of female Entertainer winners, pointed in her direction and informally beckoned the Canadian native to the stage. "Come on up, Shania Twain," she said.
"I'm embarrassed that I'm crying," Twain said during her speech, wiping away tears. She also offered a good-natured directive to Dolly Parton, who was inducted that evening into the Country Music Hall of Fame. "I have to meet Dolly Parton tonight after the show. She is my biggest inspiration of all time and she can't leave the building until I at least meet her!"
Twain went on to follow up Come on Over with 2002's Up! and a greatest hits compilation in 2004, before slowly dropping out of the public eye. She endured a divorce from her producer husband Robert "Mutt" Lange and subsequent vocal issues, before making a high-profile — and triumphant — return to the stage in 2012, headlining her own Las Vegas spectacle, Shania: Still the One. A regular showroom draw at Caesars Palace's Colosseum, the show is currently scheduled to run through summer 2014.
Remarkably, despite all her success, sales and stardom, Twain's 1999 Entertainer victory stands as her sole CMA Awards win.
I remember this award show quite well. Shania was at her best. It's a crying shame too see what's happened to her post-Mutt split. Though it is refreshing too see that Shania hasn't become a junkie or use desperate tactics to gain attention (e.g. date young models, present herself half-naked or French kiss young starlets as a means of passing the torch). However, she's become soccer Mom-ish and lost her joie de vivre. But I'm left with
with the feeling that a ghoul came and took this Shania away. Out of the graveyards of Transylvania, came a ghoul looking for a star to eat. When the ghoul was human, it wanted to be a celebrity so bad it hurt. It died with that unfulfilled desire until it was partially reborn as an evil spirit to take away the souls of weak celebrities. This way, it can have what it always wanted. The poor celebrities it attacks are now a shadow of themselves; they can't act or sing much anymore. Their fans even question their favorite celebrities integrity and scream fake and fraud, though none of that's true. It isn't until an angel comes to the rescue that the truth finally comes out and everyone's happy. The actor's and singer's new works are a smash. Though I am joking (for real, lol), sci-fi movies have been made on this subject matter. I'm Gonna Getcha Good, anyone?
I remember this award show quite well. Shania was at her best. It's a crying shame too see what's happened to her post-Mutt split. Though it is refreshing too see that Shania hasn't become a junkie or use desperate tactics to gain attention (e.g. date young models, present herself half-naked or French kiss young starlets as a means of passing the torch). However, she's become soccer Mom-ish and lost her joie de vivre. But I'm left with with the feeling that a ghoul came and took this Shania away. Out of the graveyards of Transylvania, came a ghoul looking for a star to eat. When the ghoul was human, it wanted to be a celebrity so bad it hurt. It died with that unfulfilled desire until it was partially reborn as an evil spirit to take away the souls of weak celebrities. This way, it can have what it always wanted. The poor celebrities it attacks are now a shadow of themselves; they can't act or sing much anymore. Their fans even question their favorite celebrities integrity and scream fake and fraud, though none of that's true. It isn't until an angel comes to the rescue that the truth finally comes out and everyone's happy. The actor's and singer's new works are a smash. Though I am joking (for real, lol), sci-fi movies have been made on this subject matter. I'm Gonna Getcha Good, anyone?
Hi,
You're so funny!!!But what are you smoking?? LOL!!! You have such a way of putting things...what a way with words!!! Love it!! I think what is even more unusual is the sudden desire to be so public with everything again after such a long break from it all...Hmmmmmmmmmm... What's up with that??? Why??? The big attitude change all of a sudden??? What is the reason for all this?
When so-called music journalists write BS like this, "a record that would sell a staggering 40 million copies worldwide (by comparison, Taylor Swift's best-selling release so far, Fearless, has tallied a little less than 9 million)." I know they know NOTHING about music and sales. There is no way to compare CD sells today and of the 90's. People don't go out and buy CD's anymore. There is NO way to compare them. And I would actually argue that Taylor is a MUCH bigger star nowadays than Shania ever was in her prime because Swift is a pro with social media and the like and truly connects on all levels with her fans--partly because of her young age.
And I would actually argue that Taylor is a MUCH bigger star nowadays than Shania ever was in her prime because Swift is a pro with social media and the like and truly connects on all levels with her fans--partly because of her young age.
I doubt that. Shania's music appealed to fans of all ages whereas Taylor Swift makes children's pop music.
hey tommy could you put my post from the shania news section to the shania media and tv appearances section undering 1999 cma entertainer of the year thread lol i by mistake put my post in the wrong category and thread lol thanks
goodlookingkevy wrote:
I also doubt that very very much too. It doesn't matter that cd sales are down now than they were before. Either way you look at it Shania had a much diverse and wider fan base in her prime than Taylor Swift . And imagine if Shania also had the advantage of all the social media in her prime. Shania had one album alone sell 40 million worldwide.You can do all the number crunching and adjusting sales for this time period you want, Shania still had a much broader fan base all over the world . TAylor Swift had all the advantages of social media and the fact Nashville showered her with awards from the start and the fact Shania took all the heat crossing over which make it easier for Swift. Even with all those disadvantages Shania stil sold 40 million of one album alone and went platinum in over 32 countries.
__________________
Tommy's #1 SHANIA TWAIN SuperSite shaniasupersite.com Our eyes are closed, but we're not asleep, We're wide awake beneath the sheets
oops meant to say she went multi platinum in over 32 countries. Shania also had 4 prime time music specials on network tv in the states that all did very well because of her massive broad fan base. Taylor Swift never had any tv special that drew Shania's numbers tv ratings when Shania was in her very prime. I also admit i don't pay attention to country music now adays. It is so easy now to crossover and get your music played anywhere. And there are no real groundbreaking stars like when Shania came out and Garth. And lets just imagine if Shania was actually active in the last 12 years making music. She would never of had the same success as the COO days because nobody in country music will ever match what Shania did then but she would of added to her sales totals and put out some more material and gained even more fans.
I remember this award show quite well. Shania was at her best. It's a crying shame too see what's happened to her post-Mutt split. Though it is refreshing too see that Shania hasn't become a junkie or use desperate tactics to gain attention (e.g. date young models, present herself half-naked or French kiss young starlets as a means of passing the torch). However, she's become soccer Mom-ish and lost her joie de vivre. But I'm left with with the feeling that a ghoul came and took this Shania away. Out of the graveyards of Transylvania, came a ghoul looking for a star to eat. When the ghoul was human, it wanted to be a celebrity so bad it hurt. It died with that unfulfilled desire until it was partially reborn as an evil spirit to take away the souls of weak celebrities. This way, it can have what it always wanted. The poor celebrities it attacks are now a shadow of themselves; they can't act or sing much anymore. Their fans even question their favorite celebrities integrity and scream fake and fraud, though none of that's true. It isn't until an angel comes to the rescue that the truth finally comes out and everyone's happy. The actor's and singer's new works are a smash. Though I am joking (for real, lol), sci-fi movies have been made on this subject matter. I'm Gonna Getcha Good, anyone?
Hi,
You're so funny!!!But what are you smoking?? LOL!!! You have such a way of putting things...what a way with words!!! Love it!! I think what is even more unusual is the sudden desire to be so public with everything again after such a long break from it all...Hmmmmmmmmmm... What's up with that??? Why??? The big attitude change all of a sudden??? What is the reason for all this?
Warmest regards as always,
Tonto
Hi there,
Um, I'm not sure how to explain my changes, but I can assure you that I only smoke the best. Just joking! Au contraire, I am a clean living person. But a changeable one indeed.
Maybe getting older's making me more lighthearted. Thank you for the compliment!!! I do have a sense of humor that many do not know that I have. It's fun to let it out. Usually, people know me to be rather clinical and quiet. And when I say these things, I surprise myself and others. I also figured that with Halloween around the corner I would get into the spirit.
oops meant to say she went multi platinum in over 32 countries. Shania also had 4 prime time music specials on network tv in the states that all did very well because of her massive broad fan base. Taylor Swift never had any tv special that drew Shania's numbers tv ratings when Shania was in her very prime. I also admit i don't pay attention to country music now adays. It is so easy now to crossover and get your music played anywhere. And there are no real groundbreaking stars like when Shania came out and Garth. And lets just imagine if Shania was actually active in the last 12 years making music. She would never of had the same success as the COO days because nobody in country music will ever match what Shania did then but she would of added to her sales totals and put out some more material and gained even more fans.
I stopped paying attention for a few years, but I notice differences in Shania vs. Taylor. Shania had advantages and disadvantages that Taylor did not have. For starters, Shania had a rougher time breaking in because she was poor and not from America. Taylor comes from an affluent East Coast family with great connections. Naturally, Nashville would be more receptive to TS than ST due to the interests created. It is well known that Southerners are distrustful of outsiders and if it wasn't enough that Shania was Canadian, she was married to a Brit. Then, to add more "insult to injury", they showed Music City how it's done, not once, but three times. Shania's marriage to a European helped her break into the that market. This also gave her access to directors, fashion designers and other creative people who helped to shape her global image in a way not previously done with American country singers.
Regarding Taylor's success, she's doing on par with Shania in an era where people don't buy music and get their news digitally (both a blessing and a curse). Taylor has to do damage and image control in real time in a way that Shania never had to do due to technology. When Shania experienced her controversies she had some time to prepare and let things die down. Taylor's famous in a very disposable era and her lasting success remains to be seen. That could be said about the other stars as well. Whereas Shania's success and legacy was virtually secured in her collaboration with Mutt Lange.
What really matters today are concert sales. And Taylor's kicking butt in those sales with about $150 million globally. This compared to Shania's concert sales of $80-100 million dollars circa 1990's-early 2000's money is comparable. They're two different artists and their personalities have generated different results. Shania preferred a more sensual and perky approach, while Taylor's more chummy and cutting. Their overall message is similar in that they encourage women to express themselves and never settle for less. Though some may feel Taylor writes kid's music, she's only 24 and single. She's writing about what's true to herself as a young woman rather than accelerating her development process. Shania on the other hand had no choice but to grow up too soon and embrace adult topics and situations early on.
On another note, Shania, Celine, Alanis, Sarah and other Canuck divas benefited from NAFTA in the 1990's because it opened the doors both ways between US, Canada and Mexico. This trade agreement also covered people as resources. My Latin friends tell me that it's much easier to find Mexican products of all kinds over the last 10-15 years. Also, Mexican grocery stores have blossomed in many major cities.
-- Edited by barebackwarrior on Friday 26th of September 2014 11:45:46 PM