Shania Twain Ties the Knot on New Year’s Day!
Shania Twain is starting the new year as a married woman! She and Frédéric Thiébaud were wed in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, according to People magazine. "They were married at sunset in Rincon, Puerto Rico, in front of 40 of their closest family and friends," a rep for the country superstar confirms.
The pair, who officially announced their engagement in December, became romantically involved in 2009, after becoming close companions after their respective spouses allegedly had an affair. Shania posted a letter to her fans on her website last month to share news of the engagement, writing, "The support of others has helped me to move forward less fearful of change, allowing me to embrace the beauty of life today and remain more open to whatever it brings tomorrow. The people who make my life the most joyful are the ones I am able to lean on because of my own humanness. In the last two and a half years of adjusting to life after separation and divorce, I needed to lean on others more often than I was accustomed to. These people have been gifts, and I am fortunate to have so many of these beautiful people -- friends, family and beloved fans, [whose] support I cherish more deeply with each day that passes."
"Talking about love," she continues, "I am excited to share some personal news with you; I'm in love! Frédéric Nicolas Thiébaud has been a true gift to me as a compassionate, understanding friend and over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this precious friendship. Fred and I are happy to announce our ENGAGEMENT!"
Both Shania's and Frédéric's marriages came to an abrupt ending in 2008 -- as Shania's husband of 14 years, music producer Robert "Mutt" Lange, left her, while Thiébaud's wife, Marie-Anne, left him. Shortly thereafter, sources revealed the reason for the split was Lange's affair with Marie-Anne, a secretary and manager of the super couple's Switzerland chateau, although the producer has repeatedly denied those accusations.
Shania and her new husband were later seen vacationing together in Canada, New York, Egypt and Florida, and in 2009, she revealed the depth of her feelings for him: "Having gone through the suffering of his family splitting apart at the same time and under the same extreme circumstances, he understands me better than anyone."
Looking ahead to 2011, Shania will publish her autobiography, sharing her "challenging and sometimes shockingly painful upbringing in rural Ontario," the tragic death of her mother and stepfather, her rise to fame and the recent struggles in her personal life.
"There have been moments in my life I was concerned by the reality that tomorrow would never come," explains Shania. "Recently I experienced one of those moments to an intensity that brought on a sudden urgency to document my life before I ran out of time, before I had the opportunity to share an honest and complete account of my life, in my own words." The book will be released by Atria Books this spring.
Not only will she release her autobiography, she is also expected to star in a new hour-long reality television special. 'Why Not? With Shania Twain,' scheduled to debut on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey network later this month, follows the singer as she opens up about her divorce, recovering her creative voice and her plans for a new beginning, which includes new music.