Though Shania Twain already qualifies as one of the most honored performers at tonight's Grammy Awards (she and Sheryl Crow are tied with 6 nominations, topped only by Lauryn Hill's 10 nods), the country-pop star seems to be keeping her preaward excitement in check. "It doesn't matter if I win the awards. I don't really care," Twain tells EW Online. "I mean, that's industry driven, not fan driven."

Whether or not she'll feel that way if she's called up to gather a few statues is another story. But at least for now, Twain, who's nominated for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song, and Best Country Album, claims that recognition from the music industry is of little consequence. "I want to have access to the fans, and the way you have access is through television and these sorts of things," says the 33-year-old Canadian. "That's what those [awards shows] are for, a means to communicate with your audience. And that's the way I look at it."

Considering that three of her nominations are in the country category, a genre known for aw-shucks humility from its stars, Twain's award ennui may strike a sour note. But the singer, who has already rattled die-hard country fans with her crossover appeal, doesn't mind a bit. "I think that the people that I've sort of irked a little bit in country music, I will always irk," she says. "There have always been certain people in country music who have been reluctant to accept me, but it hasn't made any difference because the fans are who I pay attention to."

It's the variety of those fans, according to Twain, that won her a Best Album Grammy in 1995 and may earn her more awards tonight: "In one family, every member will have their own CD of mine. It blows my mind. I'm not offending the parents, who may be more traditional country listeners, and I'm not boring the kids, who maybe couldn't even be bothered with country music." She adds, "When I get fan mail from teenagers who listen to Third Eye Blind and just all this stuff that has nothing to do with the country format, I know I've accomplished what satisfies me." (reported by Chris Willman)

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