CP - Entertainment
Meantime, many people anxiously waiting that new material, including the staff at the Shania Twain Centre in Timmins, a $6-million facility that opened its doors in 2001.
Tracy Hautanen, the centre's manager, says that roughly 30 people registered for this year's Twain conference, which started Thursday and runs through Sunday. That's down from 100 a few years ago.
"We were hoping for more people, but of course, the numbers are low for a few reasons - the economy is not helping, and then this is a quieter time in (Twain's) career as well," she said in a telephone interview. "So we know when things pick up with her, our numbers will pick up again."
Hautanen said just 500 fans have toured the centre this year. That's quite a comedown from 55,000 annual visitors projected when the centre opened to much fanfare eight years ago.
Twain's peers are also eagerly awaiting the singer's return. A surprise appearance at last year's CMA Awards in Nashville earned Twain a standing ovation, and a chorus of country stars - including Taylor Swift - have been vocal about wanting to see Twain come back.
"I was so proud of our country music family in Nashville when (Twain) came out on stage at the last CMAs," country legend Reba McEntire told The Canadian Press in a telephone interview.
"They were so glad to see her again. They showed their love and support by giving her a standing ovation."
As far as Twain's staying power, it's no mystery to McEntire.
"She's beautiful, she's very talented, great material, lord - what's not to love?"
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