Matching her auspiciously-titled sixth studio album, Shania Twain’s Queen of Me Tour finally galloped through Austin and into Zilker Park.
Launched in April 2022, the revitalizing run marked the Canada-born singer’s first major live dates in nearly five years (and since catching heat in 2018 for expressing her wish to have voted for Donald Trump, a statement she retracted shortly thereafter). A recent slew of TikToks from the tour showed fans leaving midway through the star’s set, criticizing Twain’s turn towards pop pageantry instead of doubling down on her country roots.
Was the highest-selling female country artist of all time guilty of cosplaying cowboy? Or when your only prerogative is to have a little fun, who really cares?
Certainly not the singer’s boisterous Saturday night ACL crowd, which donned bedazzled boots, oversized fans, and pink cowboy hats in celebration of the pop-country queen’s Honda stage headline. Rising from a dense cloud of lavender mist, Twain emerged in a Little Mermaid-esque wig and a rhinestoned silver two-piece to ear-splitting applause.
The sing-and-dance-alongs arrived in head-spinning succession. The instantly recognizable opening rockabilly guitar riff for “I’m Gonna Getcha Good!” reaffirmed the chart-topper’s country chops, while the stomp-and-holler backbeat of “Any Man of Mine” shook the few non-moving pairs of feet to action. Performing hip-shaking choreography against a backdrop of neon-tinted desertscapes, Twain leaned heavily into contemporary country aesthetics also utilized by Texan superstars like Beyoncé and Kacey Musgraves – and clearly beloved by queer fans.
The latter half of Twain’s set was sent topsy-turvy when the performer inexplicably disappeared offstage for large portions of 2023 Queen of Me track “Number One,” revealing the presence of a strong backing track. Despite vocal miscues, Twain’s audience remained loyal. As one of my neighbors succinctly summarized: “She is lip-syncing, but I don’t even care!”
Descending from a raised pop star platform to a front-and-center seat, Twain quickly regained control with dreamy ballad “Forever and for Always,” strumming sweet chords on her six-string amidst a sea of phone flashlights. Along with enduring acoustic anthem “You’re Still the One,” Twain’s stripped-down moments best showcased her timeless yearning vocals.
Last year’s country headliners utilized their ACL platform to voice opposition to conservative political figures – take Musgraves’ Ted Cruz call out or the Chicks’ teasing of Greg Abbott. While Twain offered a decidedly apolitical performance, only taking time between songs to lead audience chants or crack jokes, the night offered a visually satisfying, undeniably fun take on pop-country grandeur.
After a showstopping encore of “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” Twain exited the ACL stage in a hurry. After some initial groans of disappointment, her audience hustled across Zilker to the American Express stage, where Twain joined co-headliners Foo Fighters for a rousing performance of “Best of You.”
Dave Grohl enthused: “She took a golf cart all the way up here.”
This original version of this review said Twain’s set ended a half-hour earlier than planned. That was incorrect. The Chronicle regrets the error.
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This article appears in October 6 • 2023.