shania.funurl.com

SHANIA TWAIN RETURNS HOME
TO CO-HOST CANADA AM

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By CTV.ca NEWS STAFF
CTV.ca
November 3, 2004

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Pop and country music superstar Shania Twain made a return visit to Canada AM Wednesday, braving the chilly morning temps to co-host the show live from Dundas Square in the heart of Toronto's downtown.

Dressed in a quilted pink satin bomber jacket, Twain happily signed autographs for eager fans who had gathered in the square to see the Canadian-born star.

Along with hosts Seamus O'Regan, Beverly Thomson, and Jeff Hutcheson, Twain practised slap shots with Toronto Maple Leafs Tie Domi and Chris Pronger and former Leaf Doug Gilmour.

"That's the goofiest thing I think I've ever done, I'm sure I looked so goofy!'' she laughed, though Seamus was impressed with her mean wrist shot.

After delivering a weather forecast filled with references to her hit songs, she then helped Chef Kevin Phillip of the Delta Chelsea Hotel whip up two breakfast recipes named in her honour: Party for Two smoothies, and Man! I Feel Like a Waffle.

Twain took a few questions from fans, including a viewer in Halifax who wanted to know how she stays in such great shape.

"You know, I really don't do much of anything," Twain replied. "I watch what I eat. And I'm very active and busy and I ride horses but I don't have like a work-out regime."

As for her favourite indulgence: "Apple pie. I'm not a big chocolate person, really. My husband is, but I'm into pastries and stuff, cookies."

She added that her three-year-old son Eja helps to keep her shape.

"He's a fun little guy, loves trucks and trains and Thomas the Tank Engine and all that stuff. It's great fun," adding that he speaks two languages, French and English fluently.

The broadcast also featured an appearance by Kalan Porter, this year's Canadian Idol, who performed his new hit single "Awake in a Dream."

Twain told the show she was happy to return to her hometown of Timmins, Ont. on Tuesday to inaugurate the Shania Twain Centre built in her honour.

"I was just really proud,'' she said of the facility that opened in July 2001.

At the ceremony, Twain apologized for the three years it had taken her to squeeze in a visit, then finally cut the ribbon.

"I do have to say I have to apologize for this taking so long. But if you don't know the story: I was very far along in my pregnancy when it opened and also in the last two years I've been on tour," she said to a shivering crowd of fans gathered for the ceremony.

Adding a thank-you to her fans for their patience, an outburst of happy screams suggested the apology might not have been necessary.

After touring the facility that houses her many trophies and flamboyant outfits as well as her wedding dress, Twain announced she wouldn't change a thing about the museum.

"I think it's first class -- and not because I happen to be the subject in there," she said.

"I think when fans come here from all over the world they're going to get a really honest representation of who I am and where I'm from."

Twain, who made her fame in Nashville and now lives in Switzerland, last visited her hometown in 2000, when she dropped in on her high school reunion.

"Shania's Homecoming," a one-hour special hosted by CTV's Ben Mulroney will air Monday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV.

Shania Twain's Greatest Hits, a new album chronicling 18 of Twain's biggest hits as well as three new songs, will be released on Nov. 9, by Universal Music Canada.

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