Local girls rock the stage with Shania Twain

By Nerissa McNaughton

Shania Dawe and Trina Parker of Whitecourt have been fans of Canadian singer/songwriter Shania Twain for as long as they can remember. In fact, the first conversation the pair had as friends was about how much they admired the country crooner.

Nine years after that conversation, both girls would share the stage with Shania Twain.

“Trina made a sign saying ‘can I please sing with you’ and told me if it actually worked, I would have to come up with her,” said Shania Dawe of how they met and performed with the singer. “We were feeling very hopeful! When she first came out she was looking very obviously at us in the 4th row and, on about the 3rd or 4th song, she pointed and waved us up at the beginning of Don’t be Stupid. Both of us were in shock! We ran to the front and security waved us through and there she was waiting at the top of the stairs with her hand out. We will never forget that moment. We both sang and danced our hearts out.”

At one point, Twain handed the mic over to Trina who rocked the stage, thanks to her experience and singing talent. When the song ended, the multiple award winner asked for the girl’s names and was surprised to learn that Dawe had been named after her.

“After the concert almost everyone recognized us and were coming up to talk to us; some even wanted to take pictures with us,” smiled Shania Dawe as she reminisced of their celebrity moment.

Who knows? Perhaps Whitecourt has two budding musicians in the works! We’ll be keeping an eye out for the first Dawe and Parker album.