Five-time Grammy winner Shania Twain has performed around the world, but she’s returning to where it all began in Nashville this week, as she hosts the upcoming second People’s Choice Country Awards, which will air Thursday night (Sept. 26) on NBC and Peacock, from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.
“It’s a really full-circle experience for me,” Twain tells Billboard. “It takes me back to my own beginnings in Nashville and as a new recording artist there, and obviously the historic location is always appealing. I meet new artists, and I’m running into old friends, making new friends.”
In addition to a slate of nominees including Beyoncé, Kane Brown, Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, Shaboozey, George Strait, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman, other anticipated moments from the show will include Miranda Lambert being honored with the 2024 country icon award, while Brown will be celebrated as the 2024 country champion award honoree.
As much as Twain is guiding viewers through the awards ceremony, she says, “I’m here more as a fan than anything. It’s the artists that the people want to hear and see, so to me, that is everything. I’ll be smack dab in the middle of it all, so I’m super excited. I’m all access.”
Among those artists Twain herself anticipates seeing are a mix of newcomers and established artists.
“I’m excited to see Parker McCollum and I’ll be excited to catch up with Lady A — they are always fabulous to see live. I’m excited to see Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, and I’m particularly excited about seeing The War and Treaty and listening to them perform because they are such gorgeous vocalists. And Shaboozey just makes me happy whenever I watch one of his videos. It just brings me joy, so it’s just a lot of positive energy.”
Bryan leads this year’s nominees with 19 nominations, followed by Beyoncé with 17 nominations.
Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for 10 weeks, while her album Cowboy Carter stayed at the pinnacle of the Top Country Albums chart for four weeks. In addition to being nominated at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards for the overall people’s artist of 2024, the female artist of 2024 and the album of 2024 (Cowboy Carter), among Beyoncé’s nominations are two entries in the female song of 2024 category (“16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em”).
“The impact is undeniable,” Twain says of Cowboy Carter. “I think all successful recording artists make music for listeners, and these artists deserve an industry that in return, listens to the people’s choice, to what the people want to hear. That’s what’s happened with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and the industry needs to respect what the listeners want, and what the listeners want is Beyoncé country. The people are hungry for more diversity in the genre. Beyoncé is part of broadening the spectrum. When I was growing up I was listening to folk country, alternative country and all kinds of country, and we’re getting back to that now again, and Beyoncé is part of that.”
In terms of her hosting duties, Twain says she’s taken inspiration from other artists who have hosted awards shows, such as Reba McEntire, who has hosted both the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards.
“Any of those big shows rely a lot on the spirit and the mood of the host, because the hosts are chosen, I think quite carefully, making sure people are relating and the host has experience. Reba is one of my favorite hosts. She’s speaking from experience and I think that commands respect and attention. She’s funny and smart, and is loved by all, and it’s a compliment to be asked to do something like [hosting an awards show]. So Reba is a good example for me.”
Of course, Twain isn’t just hosting the show — she’s also a nominee, as Shania Twain: Come On Over—The Las Vegas Residency- All The Hits!, earned her a nomination in the concert tour of 2024 category. Her residency is currently slated to run through early 2025.
Recently, Twain was also included in a trailer for the new medical drama series Doctor Odyssey. Twain says 2025 and beyond will be filled with a variety of creative pursuits.
“I’ll be very, very busy for the next few years. I’m doing more acting. I’ll be in the studio making a new album. I’m writing music for various things and there’s a musical in the works with my music, so lots of exciting things. I’ll be busy doing more of a variety of things than I’ve ever done before in my career, so that’ll keep me off the Vegas stage for a while.”
