Additional Coverage:
- ‘Queen of Country Pop’ Called One of the ‘Biggest Divas’ by BBC Producer Who Claims She ‘Doesn’t Open Doors’ (parade.com)
Shania Twain, often hailed as the “Queen of Country Pop,” has earned a new and unexpected nickname from a former BBC producer who worked closely with music’s biggest stars. Gareth Davies, once a producer and stage manager for the iconic show Top of the Pops, labeled Twain as “one of the biggest divas” he encountered during his television career.
Davies shared a striking anecdote about Twain’s backstage routine during her appearances on the BBC music program. According to him, as soon as Twain was called to the stage, a long line of her entourage would dash through the BBC corridors ahead of her, resembling a conga line.
The purpose? To ensure Twain never had to open a single door herself.
“The team raced ahead to every door along the way, making sure she could walk straight through without slowing down,” Davies recalled. He described this carefully coordinated procession as “quite fascinating,” suggesting there might have been consequences for anyone who failed to get to a door before Twain did. Ultimately, he called the whole spectacle “a little bit overkill.”
When asked for comment, Twain’s representatives declined to respond.
Davies also recounted other memorable celebrity moments from his time at Top of the Pops. He called Jennifer Lopez the “sassiest,” noting her preference for all-white dressing rooms and even a white microphone. Madonna arrived with the largest entourage he had seen, though that didn’t prevent one amusing incident when her stylist forgot to bring her outfits, leaving them back at the hotel.
Not all stars fit the diva mold, though. Davies remembered Janet Jackson quietly waiting on the studio floor before her performance, and he described Britney Spears, the Spice Girls, and Kylie Minogue as surprisingly down-to-earth and kind.
Despite these varied experiences, it was Shania Twain’s door-opening entourage that cemented her place in Davies’ memories as the ultimate diva. The story surfaced as Twain celebrated her 61st birthday, adding a unique chapter to the many tales surrounding her illustrious career.