Prince’s Bold Invitation to Shania Twain: ‘Come to Paisley Park and Make the Next Rumours Album’

Shania Twain recently shared a fascinating story about an unexpected and bold invitation from one of music’s most iconic figures, Prince. During an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Twain revealed that Prince once invited her to his legendary Paisley Park studio with an audacious proposal: to record “the next Rumours album,” referring to Fleetwood Mac’s monumental 1977 hit.

The invitation came in 2008, a year when Twain was navigating a deeply painful personal crisis—her highly publicized divorce from her husband, renowned producer Mutt Lange, who had an affair with her best friend, Marie-Anne Thiebaud. This turbulent period in Twain’s life would ultimately lead to her marrying Thiebaud’s ex-husband three years later. Despite these personal challenges, Twain was a massive fan of Prince, but she admitted that she wasn’t ready for such a high-profile collaboration.

Recounting the phone call with Prince, Twain shared, “We’re on the phone, and he said, ‘Shania, why don’t you come to Paisley Park? I want to make the next Rumours album with you.'” The invitation, she said, struck her as particularly surreal because Mutt Lange had always considered Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours to be the benchmark of musical excellence—an album that defined Twain’s standards as an artist.

At the time, however, Twain wasn’t yet fully in control of her artistic voice. She candidly admitted to being too insecure to collaborate with Prince. “I was still working on it. I was so far from finding it, still,” she explained. While she had been writing music, she wasn’t in the right place emotionally or creatively to embrace such an opportunity.

Adding a humorous twist to the story, Twain revealed a quirky detail about the phone call. Prince, known for his unique personality and eccentricities, told Twain, “Well, if you do decide to come to Paisley Park, there’s no swearing allowed here.” Twain laughed at the idea, joking that she couldn’t imagine creating music without a little cursing: “What are you going to do to me if I swear? I’m going to have to stand in the corner or something!”

Ultimately, Twain confessed that it just wasn’t the right time for such a monumental collaboration. “I don’t think I was ready for what all that was going to mean for me,” she said, reflecting on the weight of such an artistic and personal endeavor.

Although the collaboration never happened, Twain’s story serves as a reminder of the high level of respect and admiration Prince held for fellow artists and the immense creative energy he was always willing to share. The idea of recording an album at Paisley Park with Prince would have undoubtedly been an unforgettable experience, but as Twain wisely noted, sometimes the timing just isn’t right.

Now, as she prepares to release her highly anticipated sixth album Queen of Me, fans can look forward to a new chapter in Twain’s musical journey. While the collaboration with Prince might never have materialized, it’s clear that both artists shared a deep creative bond, rooted in mutual respect and admiration.