Grammy-Award winning music icon, Shania Twain who just released her new album “Queen of Me” is expressing her love for the LGBTQ community and is specifically stepping up to support drag queens who are being protested in just about every state in the US at this point. Shania Twain joins GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos to talk about “The Queen of Me” and her lifelong commitment of allyship to her LGBTQ fans and friends.
From violent threats to anti-LGBTQ legislation being passed to prevent drag queens from expressing their art, Twain, who previously guest judged on Ru Paul’s Drag Race, says that she admires the talent and courage of drag queens. “I’ve learned a lot from drag queens,” she reveals. “I’m very inspired by them. I think we need this inspiration; we need drag queens to share their talent with us.”
“I’m an all-inclusive person first of all, to each his own.” Twain has been an outspoken ally since the early days of her career. “I’ve had so many friends in my life from early on that I would say… some openly, some not so openly struggled with their sexuality… I would even say I resented society for making anyone feel like an outsider.” She hopes that through her music, she can promote a more open and accepting world, “We need more love in the world, not rejection and criticism and judgment.” She talks about how people like Ru Paul and Orville Peck becoming household names, “is a sign that our society is just slowly getting there.”
Twain talks about her love for designer Marc Bouwer who is “one of my good friends and somebody that designed so many of the classics.” She says since getting involved in the show business industry, LGBTQ people have been “a part of my life, a part of my career, part of my support, part of the creative teams, so many of the creatives in my teams are part of the LGBTQ community.”
“The Queen of Me,” features 12 new tracks, including the fan favorite “Giddy Up.” The song is taking the internet by storm. From kids to drag queens, everyone is getting in on the latest Tik Tok dance trend.
@winedrunktiktoker @Shania Twain #shaniatwain #giddyupchallenge #giddyup #country #dragqueen #queenofme ♬ Giddy Up! – Shania Twain
@dwhylans Wear it, share it, cause we ain’t got time to waste #giddyup #shaniatwain #giddyupchallenge #fashiontok #tour #queenofme #dragqueen #boys #ReasonForBooking #fypシ #iconic #peoplemagazine @shaniatwain ♬ Giddy Up! – Shania Twain
Twain reveals the inspiration behind the song was simply that, “I just want to be cheerful. I want to cheer myself up. I want to cheer others up and it’s just time to just get some pep in our step.” She goes on to say that “I missed it for quite a while. I wasn’t laughing or smiling enough during Covid.”
She reveals that the setlist for “The Queen of Me” tour, will be one fans have never heard before. But not to worry, she will of course include the classics along with some of her new hits! Twain can’t wait to get on the road to laugh, dance, and “giddy on up” with all of her fans.
Twain, like so many others, was thrilled to see Kim Petras and Sam Smith’s big win for their song “Unholy” at the Grammy’s earlier this month. “I admire all the talent,” she says. “Kim reminds me of a living angel. This is a person that carries no ego and is a very, very elegant person.” Kim Petras was the first openly trans woman to win the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Twain is also a huge Sam Smith fan! “Sam’s just got one of those voices that’s just so beautiful and so perfect.”
“I want to say that I love you LGBTQ community. You are rock solid. I am inspired and I admire your courage to get out there and be yourself to be beautiful,” Twain says to close.
“The Queen of Me” is available now wherever you stream music and tickets to Shania Twain’s 2023 tour are available here.