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Tenille Townes reminisced on an unforgettable, life-changing moment from her childhood.
The Canadian-born, Nashville, Tennessee-based country star was 9 years old when she attended one of Shania Twain’s concerts. Townes, now 31, brought a homemade sign with all-capital letters that read: “SHANIA, CAN I PLEASE SING WITH YOU.” Townes reflected on that concert while joining a growing social media trend, sending a personal message to a younger version of yourself to share advice or a meaningful perspective. Townes wrote over the clip as she shared throwback photos from that night: “At 9 you will bring a poster to a Shania concert and believe with your whole heart that she will see the dream in you.
“It is very important that you trust that belief… and keep following it,” Townes added as the footage transitioned from throwback moments to present-day performances (including a reunion with Twain). Townes added in her caption on Instagram, “Here’s to holding on to that belief… thanks for believing beside me you guys <3”
Twenty years after attending Twain’s concert as a child, Townes reunited with the iconic country star in a “full circle” moment on stage. Townes remembered at the time, “I told my mom, I was like, ‘I’m singing with Shania tonight. This is the night.’ …and you saw me! You saw me, and you pulled me up here. You are such a huge reason why I’m standing here doing the thing that I love to do so much.”
Twain said at the time “it just blows me away,” that the moment she shared with Townes inspired her to pursue her career as a singer-songwriter. Townes wrote in a caption on Instagram in December 2022: “If you'd have told this nine year old kid who was randomly pulled on stage with her hero, that a few years later, she'd be opening up for that hero on an arena tour, she would have lost her mind. Currently losing my mind... this is the craziest full circle and I can not wait for these shows 🥹🖤🤘”