Shania Twain looks out over a sea of people, many of whom are ironically sporting cowboy hats. “Hats off to you Glastonbury,” she adds.
“I sense your support and can see it. I’m really grateful that you invited me.
Not many musicians have ever taken to Glastonbury’s ‘Legends Slot’ quite like this.
For months, the celebrity has been hyping up her presence.
In addition to sharing her dream of riding a horse to the festival, she also persuaded Great Western Railways to rename some of their rolling stock as “Shania Trains”.
She marveled at Worthy Farm (“it’s a whole city”) and even went up to Friday night’s main act, Dua Lipa, to ask for some advice on Saturday to warm up.
Her intention to ride a stallion on the Pyramid Stage was unfortunately derailed by the festival, but she still made an impressive entrance.
Two drag queens and six dancers carried the 58-year-old onto the platform while she was carrying six colorful hobby horses in the air.
She wasted little time in launching into That Don’t Impress Me Much, one of her biggest singles.
The mood was explosive as the audience joined in her ridicule of males who possess cars, Brad Pitt, and rocket scientists.
With her arm-length gloves, rhinestone-studded cowboy hat, and black minidress contrasted with a flowing pink cloak that she tossed around with a carefree camp vibe, Twain looked amazing.
“I can see everyone, everything, and every flag, which is amazing,” she exclaimed.
“I see a lot of cowboy hats and leopard print… and it’s really, really special.”
There was a slight decline in energy following that incredible start.
The next two songs, Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You) and You Win My Love, were less well-known to the audience.
Additionally, Twain appeared to be annoyed by her earpiece, just like Cyndi Lauper on Saturday.
But her voice picked up that unique country twang as soon as it warmed up. This year has been extremely dusty in Glastonbury, so at times her throat sounded a little dry and scratchy, but the emotion was unmistakable.
In a year where country music has returned to the charts with hits like Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well, and Shaboozey’s appealing Bar Song (Tipsy), Twain’s hiring was a stroke of genius.
One of the first “crossover” artists of the genre in the 1990s, Twain blended the stadium rock’s bombast with Nashville’s storytelling legacy.
The Woman In Me, her second album, achieved 12-time platinum status. Thanks to uplifting hits like “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” and the mega-ballad “You’re Still The One,” which was an early highlight of her Glastonbury show, the follow-up album, 1997’s Come On Over, sold over 40 million copies.
Twain invited the audience to join her in singing the chorus as she sat down with an acoustic guitar.
“I usually perform at night, so I can only see your reactions in close proximity to the stage. However, I can see every single one of you [today], all the way to the back, right up to the tents,” she remarked.
“I can see you so well, but I want to hear you back as well.”
The crowd nearly drowned her out as she strummed the notes.
It was a moment of chills.
The 58-year-old admitted before the event that she was a touch “overwhelmed” by the prospect of landing the coveted Sunday afternoon Legends slot, which has been held by Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, and Dolly Parton.
“They are all people I consider to be music heroes and have been a big influence on my own career, so it’s surreal to have been invited,” she stated to News.
I’ve been informed that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that it is a genuine event. “Let me tell you about it,” they all continue to say. Permit me to share my experiences with you.”
Twain started to understand what that meant as the show went on.
She exclaimed, “I’m feeling frickin’ amazing,” once. “You guys are country music fanatics.”
The attendance, which extended all the way to the back of the field, was comparable to Coldplay’s Saturday night throng, if not larger.
Additionally, Twain had her own ensemble of A-list celebrities, including Mad Max star Anya Taylor Joy and model Cara Delevigne, while Chris Martin had Stormzy and Tom Cruise watching his set.
Maybe her concert lacked the guaranteed singalongs of Kylie or Dolly, but nobody in their right mind could have predicted the reaction to her last song, Man! I Have a Woman’s Feeling.
Twain had given so much of herself by then that she abandoned the melody and chose to sing a low-register harmony, leaving the high notes to her backing vocalists. It should be mentioned that her voice has never been the same since Lyme disease caused nerve damage to her vocal cords in the early 2000s).
In the meantime, the crowd roared back every phrase in unison, climbed on each other’s shoulders, and swung their feather boas.
Following it, admirers informed the how amazed they were.
It was very, really amazing. The highlight of the weekend, according to Bethany from Surrey.
“It’s everything I could have asked for,” said Gloucester supporter Liv. “She put on a fantastic show.”
She was completely deranged. Middlesborough resident Leah continued, “I adore her so much.
“She looks amazing for her age and has such confidence.
“She is girl power, completely.”
And Lauren Filer choreographed the routine if you witnessed the security team dancing to Twain’s hit song That Don’t Impress Me Much.
On the Pyramid Stage, she performed with Candice Scott and Sophie Barton, who were chosen by hand from among hundreds of contestants to join Shania Twain live on stage.
