Shania Twain: A Star in International Country Music
Shania Twain, a Canadian star, has become the most successful female singer in country music, showcasing its global appeal.
Country music may be closely associated with American pride and the rural lifestyle, but many of its stars come from outside the country. This international flavor has thus defined a genre characterized by Nashville’s flamboyant redneck attitude.
Country music is historically perceived mostly as an American product, a unique, and distinct cultural feature of the United States. Yet the origins and broader trends of this genre reveal a surprising international character, as several prominent country music stars come from Canada, Australia, and even New Zealand.
One of the first and most outstanding international stars of American country music was Hank Snow, a Canadian. Snow, then known as Clarence Eugene, was born in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, in 1914, and had been inspired to become a musician by Jimmie Rogers. Even though Snow suffered from early poverty, he made his first steps towards his dream by sending his music to the Maine radio stations. In 1949, he moved to the U.S. and signed with RCA. His career took off, and he became a regular at the Grand Ole Opry in the late 1950s. Now, he is one of the best-known performers of country music in two homes, as he is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in the United States and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Much later, in 1992, an even more internationally renowned country music star of the next generation migrated from the opposite side of the Southern Hemisphere. Keith Urban, the citizen of New Zealand with an Australian past, overcame difficulties on his way to HollyWood. in 1990, Urban had to abandon his drummer’s career when he suffered from cancer that was threatening his vocal cords. However, all these problems were only a springboard for becoming a prominent star. His career skyrocketed when he signed a contract with Capitol Records in 1997. Even though he has a few solo albums that contributed to his success and critical acclaim in the American country music scene, especially his fourth and fifth releases “Golden Road” and “Be Here”, among the most successful today.
Shania Twain, a Canadian whose background and lifestyle seem quite similar to Keith Urban’s in some respects, also managed to become a significant country music artist. Born Eilleen Regina Edwards on August 28, 1965, in Timmins, Ontario, Twain came to Nashville in 1991 and, through her hard work in the early 1990s, managed to become the most successful female singer in the history of country music. Her biometrical essay states, The presence of these international stars in American country music means that it has broader flexibility and appeal than once thought. This changes the way the genre is thought of and its future direction.
In conclusion, the international perspective of some of the most famous country music stars has revealed that a historical music genre uniquely American can no longer be viewed. As the world is getting smaller and the pop culture more culturally hospitable, the country music of the future will acquire even more diversity. National borders will not be a constraining power; on the contrary, they will provide a source of rich cultural experience and insights. The international background of the country music stars will make it a richer, more diverse genre with deep roots in the traditional and new culture alike.
