Shania Twain does not believe in writing down her goals.

"I've never played that psychology game with myself," says the country-pop superstar. "I'm focused all the time, so it has always been very clear to me what my goals are. I'm such a planner that I'm constantly thinking about what it is I want to do. And it all just seems to fall into place, every day, every week, every month. It has always been that way for me."

This kind of single-minded dedication has made Twain one of the most successful recording artists in history. Twain's third album, Come On Over, has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide. The singer has won five Grammy awards, in addition to being named entertainer of the year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. According to Rolling Stone magazine's annual "Rich List," Twain earned an estimated $36.1 million in 2003.

The diva didn't reach this zenith by herself. Twain's infectious, glossy, perfect-for-radio sound was largely created by producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, whom she married in 1993. The reclusive, notoriously media-shy Lange has produced several of the best-selling albums of all time, including AC/DC's Back in Black and Def Leppard's Hysteria.

In August 2001, Twain and Lange welcomed into the world their most precious collaboration, a son named Eja D'Angelo Lange. Twain proudly notes that her husband has embraced the role of papa. She says, "It's a big change, as far as time demands go, but Mutt's got so much energy, and he's used to having less sleep, but for different reasons. He's a very hands-on dad, and we cover for each other a lot. He's actually adjusted really well, and I think it's probably because he has worked such odd hours in the recording studio for so many years."

Twain's latest album, Up!, is packaged as a double-disc set. All 19 tracks on the first disc have a country mix, and the same songs appear in the same sequence-with a less twangy, more pop-oriented mix-on the second disc. This strategy continues the "little bit country, little bit rock 'n' roll" approach that has made Twain a phenomenon around the globe.

Only a decade ago, Twain was a relatively obscure Canadian singer trying to make it big in Nashville. When she met Lange, the couple immediately clicked, both professionally and personally. Twain insists that when she first began working with Lange, she had no reservations about recording country music with a rock producer.

"I relate so well to so many different styles of music that the contrast seemed perfect for what I wanted to go for," she says. Reflecting on her days as a struggling musician, she recalls, "I went in and out of the clubs for years, doing every style of music that you can imagine, whether it was R&B, dance, Top 40, rock, country, or whatever. So I had a built-in diversity. Mutt was a big fan of country music, so we were very compatible because of both our backgrounds. We were on the same page right from the beginning. Because of what people know about me and know about him, I think they're quick to assume that we're opposites. But in fact, we're very, very much alike."

Twain and Lange are truly global citizens. She was born in Windsor, Ontario, in 1965. He was born in what is now Zimbabwe in 1948. The couple previously lived in upstate New York, but they now reside in Switzerland. In the Up! liner notes, Twain writes that the album's songs were composed and recorded in numerous exotic locales, such as Paris, Rome, Berlin, Dublin, Vienna, and the Bahamas.

With so much fame, wealth, and prestige, what is the toughest thing about being Shania? "My hair!" Twain jokingly quips. "My hair is such a pain. I'm just going to shave it off. I'm gonna pull an Eminem. He's got the right idea. He's got the tuque on," she laughs, using the common Canadian term for a close-fitting, winter hat. Turning more serious in tone, she adds, "Actually, there's nothing really to complain about."

Shania On the Road