Shania Twain on hosting the People’s Choice Country Awards

Five-time Grammy winner Shania Twain has performed all over the world, but this week she returns to where it all began in Nashville, as she hosts the second annual People’s Choice Country Awards, which will be broadcast Thursday night (Sept. 26) on NBC and Peacock, from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

“It’s a really full-circle experience for me,” Twain says. Billboard. “It takes me back to my own beginnings in Nashville and as a new recording artist there, and obviously the historic venue is always attractive. I meet new artists, meet old friends and make new friends.

In addition to a list 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 series will include Miranda Lambert receiving the 2024 Country Icon Award, while Brown will be celebrated as the winner of the 2024 Country Champion Award.

Even as Twain guides viewers through the awards ceremony, she says, “I’m here more as a fan than anything else.” These are the artists that people want to hear and see, so for me, that’s it. I’ll be right in the middle of it all, so I’m super excited. I have everything access.

Among these artists, Twain herself expects to see a mix of newcomers and established artists.

“I can’t wait to see Parker McCollum and would love to catch up with Lady A – they are always fabulous to see live.” I can’t wait to see Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, and I’m especially excited to see The War and Treaty and hear them perform because they are such magnificent singers. And Shaboozey makes me happy every time 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” in the lead Billboardon the Hot Country Songs chart for 10 weeks, while his album Cowboy Carter remained at the top of the Top Country Albums chart for four weeks. As well as being nominated at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards for Popular Artist of 2024, Female Artist of 2024 and Album of 2024 (Cowboy Carter), among Beyoncé’s nominations are two entries in the 2024 female song category (“16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em”).

“The impact is undeniable,” Twain says of Cowboy Carter. “I think all successful artists make music for listeners, and these artists deserve an industry that, in turn, listens to people’s choices, to what they want to hear. This is what happened with Beyoncé Cowboy Carter and the industry has to respect what the listeners want, and what the listeners want is Beyoncé country. People are hungry for more diversity in the genre. Beyoncé participates in broadening the spectrum. When I was growing up, I listened to folk country, alt country and all kinds of country, and we still come back to that today, and Beyoncé is one of them.

When it comes to her hosting duties, Twain says she’s inspired by other artists who have hosted award shows, like Reba McEntire, who has hosted both the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards.

“Any of these big shows depends a lot on the mind and mood of the host, because the hosts are chosen, I think quite carefully, making sure people get along and the host has experience. Reba is one of my favorite hosts. She speaks from experience and I think that commands respect and attention. She is funny and intelligent, and is loved by everyone. It’s a compliment to be asked to do something like (host an awards ceremony) so Reba is a good example for me.

Of course, Twain doesn’t just host the show – she’s also nominated, as Shania Twain: Come On Over – The Las Vegas Residency – All The Hits!, earned her a nomination in the 2024 concert tour category. residency is currently expected to end in early 2025.

Recently, Twain was also included in a trailer for the new medical drama series. Doctor Odyssey. Twain asserts that 2025 and beyond will be filled with a variety of creative activities.

“I will be very, very busy over the next few years. I do more theater. I will be in the studio making a new album. I write music for various things and there’s a musical in the works with my music, so lots of exciting stuff. I’ll be busy doing more varied things than I’ve ever done in my career, so that will keep me away from the Vegas scene for a while.