Shania Twain has long balanced global fame with a deeply personal role that she has consistently placed first: motherhood. Since welcoming her son Eja D’Angelo Lange in 2001 with then-husband Robert “Mutt” Lange, the singer has spoken openly about how becoming a parent reshaped her priorities.
“My priorities, of course, have changed. He’s my focus of every day,” Twain said in a 2002 interview on CBC, describing the profound shift Eja brought into her life.
Raising Eja Away From the Spotlight
Twain made a conscious decision early on to raise her son outside the pressures of celebrity life. After his birth, she moved with her then-husband to Switzerland, where she aimed to create a grounded environment.
In a 2007 interview, she explained her approach, saying she wanted Eja to grow into someone who is “well-rounded, humble and honest,” adding that they made an effort to keep him appreciative without isolating him from the world.
Following her separation from Lange in 2008, after his affair with her friend Marie-Anne Thiébaud, Twain shifted even more of her focus to raising her son. “As you know, I am a mom and all my energy goes to making sure my little man is healthy and happy in every way,” she wrote in 2009.
Her personal life later took a new turn when she married Frédéric Thiébaud in 2011. Speaking about their relationship in 2010, Twain described him as “the most constant companion and support for both Eja and I,” highlighting the stability he brought during a difficult time.
A Creative Path and Shared Musical Passion
Growing up in a musical household, Eja followed a creative path of his own. Twain has confirmed in interviews that her son has been making music for several years and approaches it with dedication.
“He’s very devoted and a real hard worker… he’s got a crazy passion for making music,” she told Sounds Like Nashville in 2017.
His musical interests are wide-ranging, with Twain noting that he listens to EDM as well as a variety of other genres. She also shared that composer Hans Zimmer is among his biggest influences, and that he enjoys arranging and orchestrating his own work.
The pair have occasionally collaborated in the studio. During a 2021 appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan, Twain described their creative exchanges, explaining that they send ideas back and forth despite working on different systems. “You never know, maybe someday we’ll come up with something really great,” she said.
Choosing a Different Kind of Life
Despite his strong connection to music, Eja has shown no desire to step into the spotlight as a performer. Twain has spoken candidly about this, saying she believes his personality is better suited to creating behind the scenes.
“He’s not taking interest in being a performer… I think he’ll enjoy music more just being the creator,” she said, noting his more reserved and quietly confident nature. In a separate interview with The New York Times, she reiterated that he prefers a path closer to his father’s work in production.
