“That girl is working her butt off,” the country icon told ‘Haute Living’ of Swift as she celebrates 25 years of her ‘Come on Over’ album

Shania Twain can relate to Taylor Swift’s massive successes and busy touring schedule.

As the country icon celebrates 25 years of her blockbuster Come on Over album, she opened up in a new cover story interview with Haute Living about paving the way for other women in music and praised Swift’s work ethic as well as her passion.

“It wasn’t like I intended on being a trailblazer or anything; I never even realized I would be,” Twain, 58, told the outlet. “I was just trying to be original, my authentic self, and to do it with conviction. I’m an expressive person, and I put that into my music. I was saying it with attitude and with confidence because I meant it.”

The “You’re Still the One” singer said it’s a “compliment” to be called a trailblazer, though she didn’t see her career path heading in that direction in the beginning: “I was just being myself, and I think that’s served me very well.”

Of course, artists including Swift, 34, have given Twain her flowers over the years for inspiring them, and she returned the favor in the Haute Living interview. “That girl is working her butt off. She is living an exhausting existence, but she’d dedicated and committed to herself, to her art, and her work,” she said of the “Karma” musician.

“It isn’t even about ambition, though I’m sure that most people would call her ambitious. She’s an extremely hard worker, and I’m sure she’s got giant goals. But it’s not all about ambition: it’s about passion and committing yourself to your passion,” continued Twain — who attended Swift’s Eras Tour in March 2023.

She then compared herself to Swift, noting their similar career approaches and how working with passion “reaps rewards” for artists. “So, I would say that I’m most proud of my perseverance, and that I didn’t waste my talents,” she added.

The Grammy winner is currently gearing up to celebrate the anniversary of Come on Over with her upcoming Las Vegas residency of the same name, which launches next month at the Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Returning to the album that spawned hits including “Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You),” “You’re Still the One,” “Honey, I’m Home,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” has allowed Twain to see her past work in a new light.

“At the time [of release], I wasn’t able to fully be in the moment and enjoy it,” she told Haute Living of the 1997 album. “There were so many singles, so many videos, and so much work involved that I didn’t really take it all in. Now, looking back, I’m experiencing certain things for the first time. I’m being reminded of things that I may not have been able to take in at that moment.”

Having already experienced success on a high level with her 1995 album, The Woman in Me, she wasn’t quite sure what to expect with Come on Over.

“I’d already felt like I’d achieved everything that most artists can ever achieve. My previous album, The Woman in Me, had surpassed diamond status,” she recalled. “I remember thinking, This probably won’t happen again, lightning doesn’t strike twice, and that I was just going to have fun with what came next. So that’s what I did.”

Twain added, “You can hear it in the album: I experimented more, I stretched boundaries, but I was more relaxed about it. And so, Come on Over became a celebration album.”