Country music awaits Shania Twain's return

Canadian country music star Shania Twain is slowly stepping back into the spotlight after the breakup of her marriage to Robert (Mutt) Lange in May 2008.

Twain has been keeping a low profile, aside from a brief appearance at the Country Music Association awards last November. But this week, she will be a guest judge on American Idol during the Chicago auditions, and she has reached out to fans by posting a personal letter and video travelogue on her website.

Reba McEntire hopes this will mark Twain's re-emergence onto the scene.

"The country music industry is ready for Shania Twain to come back, definitely," said McEntire. "You could see that at the CMA Awards. They gave her a standing ovation when she walked out on stage."

Taylor Swift recently gave credit to Twain "for always making theatrical videos," during an acceptance speech at the Country Music Television awards. Swift said, "I take my cues from you."

Twain posted the letter and video on her website Friday, her 44th birthday, to show what she and her son have been up to in the past year.

"I hit a very big bump in the road," she wrote. "But Eja and I are doing well and with all the concern you, my fans, have shown over this difficult period, I want you to see for yourself that we are doing fine, by sharing these personal images with you."

Twain's marriage to Lange fell apart last May following his alleged affair with Marie-Anne Thiebaud, a longtime secretary and manager of the couple's chateau in Switzerland. Since then, Twain has relied on Thiebaud's ex-husband, Frederic Thiebaud to heal.

"A dear friend and true gentleman by the name of Fred, has been the most constant companion of support for both Eja and me," Twain wrote. "And having gone through the suffering of his family splitting apart at the same time under the same extreme circumstances, he understood me better than anyone."

Twain said she has made a point of surrounding herself with "loved ones I can trust."

"When I reflect on it all," Twain said, "it's clear how remarkably active my life has been since last December a time in the life of someone working hard to 'move on' and succeeding."

There's no word on when she might come out with new music. But she said her experiences are helping her find inspiration through seeing new and fascinating things. And she's putting that inspiration into writing.