Shania Twain is opening up about one of the most heartbreaking parts of her childhood.
In a new interview this week with People promoting her upcoming album Little Miss Twain, the country music icon reflected on growing up in poverty — and how, as a kid, she devastatingly found herself taking on adult responsibilities while watching her mother struggle with depression.
Related: Shania Twain Reveals Dangerous & ‘Unhealthy Things’ She Did To ‘Be Thinner’
During the interview, Shania didn’t sugarcoat just how difficult life was behind closed doors with her mom Sharon and her stepdad Jerry. She said:
“I grew up really quickly. We didn’t always have money to pay the bills. I was one of the adults: getting the kids to school, making meals out of nothing — whatever was left in jars, like ketchup sandwiches — and trying to support my mother through her depression and not being able to feed us or not being able to keep us warm in the winter.”
Whoa.
Even while recalling those painful memories, the Man! I Feel Like a Woman! singer made it clear she has nothing but compassion for her mom — who died alongside Shania’s stepfather in a tragic car accident when the singer was just 22 years old.
She explained:
“She was a wonderful mother, but she couldn’t cope with not always being able to care for us the way she believed we should be cared for.”
How heartbreaking…
Shania also revealed that music became something much bigger than a dream in their household. As she put it:
“My music was her lifeline a lot of the time. It gave her hope that we could maybe become the Beverly Hillbillies.”
The superstar has spoken before about surviving an abusive childhood, losing her parents at a young age, navigating a very public divorce, and battling health issues that threatened her singing voice.
Related: THIS Taylor Swift Ex Is The Reason Shania Twain Skipped Travis Kelce Wedding!
But looking back now, she says those experiences forced her to develop resilience long before most kids ever have to.
As Shania shared:
“I had to learn how to be brave really early on and not crumble.”
No kidding.
It’s an incredibly candid look at the hardships that shaped one of country music’s biggest stars — and a reminder that behind all those chart-topping anthems was a little girl carrying far more than any child should have to.
You can see more (below):
And you can read her full interview HERE.
Reactions, y’all? Share ’em in the comments (below).
For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
