COUNTRY QUEEN: 'ALL THESE YEARS LATER I'M STILL HERE AND I'M EMBRACING IT'

AS SINGER SHANIA TWAIN JOINS THE JUDGING PANEL ON ITVT’S STARSTRUCK, WE CELEBRATE HER INCREDIBLE LIFE AND CAREER

- LEO ROBERTS

Shania Twain is having a moment. With a new album out and a place on the judging panel of ITV1’s Starstruck, the Man! I Feel Like A Woman! singer is very much back in the spotlight.

This weekend she will join fellow judges Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight and Jason Manford for the second series of the hit talent show hosted by Olly Murs.

Shania replaces Sheridan Smith, and the multi-Grammy winning country music star can’t wait to get stuck into her new role.

“I would say I’m an inspired judge – I’m inspired by the personalities of the talent and their life stories really move me,” she says of her critiquing style. “I’m always considering how inspired I am, that’s really where I’m coming from when I’m giving them any commentary or any feedback.”

And Shania, 57, isn’t just at home in the judging chair, she also loves being in Britain.

“I love being in the UK – it’s very much a sister culture for me coming from Canada,” she says. “It doesn’t feel foreign in many ways. I would drink tea in Canada! There is a much more relaxed sense of humour. We swear more in Canada so I curb that a little bit when I’m over here! I always feel very at home when I’m here.”

After selling more than 100 million records worldwide and becoming the best-selling female artist in country music history, Shania is thrilled she’s now influencing a whole new generation of fans – including some famous ones!