Country music fans have another reason to dust off their cowboy boots, as Shania Twain has been announced as the first headliner for a major UK festival in 2027.
The Canadian superstar, 61, will be bringing a little Nashville glamour to Essex next summer when she takes to the stage at State Fayre, following the festival’s hugely successful debut earlier this year.
And with more than three decades of hits under her belt, it’s safe to say the woman responsible for Man! I Feel Like a Woman! knows a thing or two about getting a crowd on its feet.
Shania will headline the Saturday night of the three-day event, which returns to Hylands Park in Chelmsford from June 18 to 20, 2027.
The announcement marks the first major name confirmed for next year’s festival, with two further headliners and a host of additional acts still to be revealed.
For anyone who has spent the past few years watching country music conquer the British charts, the news is unlikely to come as much of a surprise.
The genre has enjoyed something of a renaissance on this side of the Atlantic, with cowboy hats increasingly becoming a staple of British summer festivals and artists from across the musical spectrum embracing country roots.
But long before the current country music craze, Shania was busy proving that a little twang could go a very long way.
With global hits including That Don’t Impress Me Much, You’re Still the One and From This Moment On, the five-time Grammy winner helped bring country music into the pop mainstream, becoming one of the best-selling female artists in history.
Now she’s preparing to bring those unmistakable singalongs to a field in Essex, where the festival promises a distinctly American experience without the inconvenience of a transatlantic flight.
Speaking about her upcoming performance, Shania said: ’We all know I love the UK and my UK fans are the best.
‘Last summer everyone said that State Fayre was a blast so I can’t wait to experience it for myself and it’s an honour to headline, of course!
‘Summer will be here before we know it, see you all soon for my hits from ‘93 and the first record to Little Miss Twain, my latest release. Let’s go!’
The singer’s appearance follows a particularly memorable few years for her British fans, including her headline performance at BST Hyde Park in 2024 and a coveted Glastonbury Legends slot that same summer.
And while Worthy Farm may have provided the mud, State Fayre is hoping to offer something closer to a traditional American state fair, complete with live music, barbecue and a healthy appreciation for all things Americana.
The festival made its debut in 2026, attracting more than 50,000 visitors to Hylands Park for a weekend celebrating music, food and the culture of the American South.
Its combination of established international performers, emerging talent and enormous quantities of barbecue proved popular enough to secure a second outing.
Festival organisers Anna-Sophie Mertens and Alex Simmonds said they were ‘over the moon’ to have secured Shania as their first headliner.
‘An icon not just in the history of country music but also in global culture itself, Shania is the perfect fit for what State Fayre is all about,’ they said.
’A true celebration in every sense of the word, singing along is going to be a must by the time June comes around.
‘With two more headliners still to be revealed and an incredible lineup still to be announced, we can’t wait to show the world what we’ve been working on.’
And for those already mentally planning their summer wardrobe, tickets won’t be far behind.
Weekend and Saturday day tickets go on general sale at 9am on Friday, November 6, with an exclusive PayPal presale beginning at 9am on Wednesday, November 4.
A limited Live Nation and Ticketmaster presale will also take place from 9am on Thursday, November 5.
Early bird tickets have already sold out, suggesting there is considerable appetite for another helping of the festival’s American-inspired festivities.
Tickets and further information are available at statefayre.com.