Shaina Twain’s open throat surgery has given her a new perspective on performing.
The 59-year-old singer-songwriter told PEOPLE in an interview on the red carpet at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards on Thursday (September 26) in Nashville that her past vocal cord surgery helped her overcome stage fright.
“It was actually about my throat surgery,” Twain says when asked about her recent experiences with performance anxiety. “I lost my voice, my singing voice, for a few years. Getting it back [and] I have to go through open throat surgery to get it back, to reset my reality.”
Shania Twain at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards.
Terry Wyatt/Getty
She continues, “When you realize you have another chance at something you love, you take it and put your fear aside to do it—and that’s what I did.”
Twain says her “voice” and “will to never give up” helped her through the challenging surgery.
The country star, who is hosting the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, also told PEOPLE what keeps her motivated after more than 30 years in the industry.
“The creative element of the industry,” she says. “I love writing new songs. I love designing and producing. There’s a lot more to being an artist than just standing on stage and singing — although of course that’s a very problematic part. But I think there’s a lot fans might not be aware of that’s going on and it’s fun to share.”
She adds, “I definitely wear a lot of hats and that keeps me motivated.”
See all of PEOPLE’s full coverage of the PCCAs here.
People’s Choice Country Awards 2024: See the full list of winners!
For more than seven years, Twain was unable to project vocally and worried that she would never sing again. Eventually, doctors diagnosed her with Lyme disease from a tick bite in 2004, which they believe damaged the nerves in her vocal cords. She relearned to sing, with lengthy warm-ups and physical therapy, and in 2018, Twain underwent open throat surgery to strengthen weakened nerves.
“Maybe I won’t be able to [sing] forever,” she told PEOPLE in 2022, “but right now I’m just enjoying where I am.”
This spring, Jon Bon Jovi revealed to PEOPLE that when he was dealing with problems with his vocal cords, he turned to Twain — and ended up having the same procedure as her, under the same surgeon.
“She’s my spiritual sister in this,” he told PEOPLE at the time. “Not only did she reassure me that it was going to be fine, but I think she pulled my leg a little because she told me I was going to be out a lot sooner than I was. She says, ‘Well, I told you that because I knew you might back out otherwise.’ And so, I couldn’t wait for the operation.”
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Shania Twain at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards.
Tibrina Hobson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
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Twain walked the red carpet in a halter denim dress with a plunging neckline and rhinestone embellishment. She paired the look with matching sparkly denim gloves and a huge blue ring.
The “That Don’t Impress Me Much” singer also spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about preparing for the awards, saying, “I’m busy getting excited about the glamor and representing country music the way I like to represent it, which is with great fashion and excitement and put on a really great show.”
PCCA 2024 will air live on Thursday, September 26 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on NBC and Peacock from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
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Source: HIS Education