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FAST TRACK TWAIN

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Where was Shania Twain the first week of November? Everywhere!

By Wendy Newcomer
Country Weekly
January 3, 2005
Pages 38-40

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The omnipresent Superstar began her whirlwind week with a homecoming visit to her native Canada, where she cut the ribbon at the official opening of the Shania Twain Centre in her hometown of Timmins, Ontario.

She then visited her alma mater, Timmins High and Vocational School, and stopped by the W.E. Miller Elementary School, speaking about her work with the "Breakfast for Learning" program.

The next day, Shania promoted her new Greatest Hits CD on the TV show Canada AM, hitting the ice with hockey pros and even cooking waffles.

After that, it was off to Music City USA, where the musical tornado took over downtown Nashville for a live performance on Good Morning America of her new duet with Billy Currington, "Party For Two."

But Shania's party was only getting started. She stayed in Nashville for another jam-packed few days, during which her song "Forever and For Always" received the Country Song of the Year award and the Robert J. Burton Award as the Most Performed Country Song of the Year at the BMI Country Awards. And she also performed "Party For Two" with Billy on the CMA awards show Nov. 9.

"Without hit songs you cannot have a successful career," states Shania, who's topped the charts seven times. "No matter how much money's behind you. No matter how great your record company is. No matter who your management is. No matter what you look like. If you do not have hit songs, you will not be successful."

From the looks of things, Shania has nothing to worry about. In its first week on the shelves, her Greatest Hits CD sold more than 528,000 copies - which is the best showing for a country greatest-hits album in history, and second only to The Beatles' 1s CD, its closest competition in any genre. And her Come On Over CD was recently awarded a double diamond plaque, signifying over 20 million in sales and making it the best-selling country album of all time.

What's next? A pause for reflection.

"I never stopped to enjoy the moments as they were happening, which is kind of unfortunate," admits Shania. "So, I haven't cracked as many champagne bottles open as I probably should have over the last ten years just because I was always so focused on the future, what's next and all that stuff."

"This is the first moment that I can say is starting to feel good and comfortable. I can look back and say, 'Wow, all this has happened to me over the last 10 years.' It feels really good."

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