Shania Twain Jokes Brad Pitt “Must Be Impressed” by Her

Country singer Shania Twain revealed that she has never met actor Brad Pitt, even though she famously mentioned him in her 1997 hit song That Don’t Impress Me Much. During a radio appearance on Australia’s KIIS Network’s Will & Woody on October 27, Twain reflected on her use of Pitt’s name and poked fun at the fact they’ve never crossed paths, despite her lyric’s popularity. The discussion highlighted her playful take on the celebrity culture surrounding Pitt and the impression she joked he might have of her.

Twain’s Humorous Take on Brad Pitt’s Possible Reaction

Twain, 60, spoke lightheartedly about her life in Canada before fame, joking that her skills with chopping wood and using a chainsaw could impress Brad Pitt. She said,

“We’ve never met. And, I mean, there’s a lot of Hollywood celebrities I’ve never met,”

Twain explained during the interview. She added,

“that leopard print chick can chop wood and use a chainsaw,”

referring to her rugged past. Twain further joked about how Pitt might need her help someday, saying,

“Move your own fallen tree out of the road! I don’t know, I mean, maybe, he’ll think of me if that ever happens to him. ‘Oh, maybe, I better call Shania and ask her how to do this.’”

The Origins of the Brad Pitt Line in “That Don’t Impress Me Much”

Twain explained the inspiration behind including Brad Pitt in the lyrics during the height of his fame in the late 1990s. She recalled the public frenzy surrounding Pitt and how he was viewed as a major heartthrob. She said,

“I was thinking, ‘OK, everybody in the world is in love with Brad Pitt right now.’ There were nude photos out of him, and everybody was gaga over that,”

and added,

“And I’m thinking, ‘OK, if there is anyone that is making an impression on everyone.’ And that’s why I picked on him.”

Twain also joked about Pitt potentially reaching out someday to discuss the song, saying,

“You’d think by now, he’s OK,”

and

“He certainly doesn’t have to try very hard [to impress anyone]. I think I’m sure he’s got a pretty good sense of humor.”

Earlier Reflections on the Song’s Meaning and Public Reaction

In a 2017 interview at Spotify’s headquarters, Twain shared the backstory of the lyric’s creation, which was inspired by a public scandal involving Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow. She recalled spending time with a friend baking cookies around Christmas while writing her album. Twain said,

“You want to know the truth about this story? I’ve never told this before. I’m going to say it now,”

and added,

“I remember I had a girl friend visiting me and it was near Christmas and we were baking cookies. I was writing this album and there was a scandal of [Pitt] and Gwyneth [Paltrow] where there was naked photos of him [in Playgirl magazine, which Pitt later successfully sued for publishing the paparazzi photos]. And this was like all the rage.”

She reflected on the cultural fuss around the photos, saying,

“I just thought ‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about.’ I’m like, well that don’t impress me much, I mean what is all the fuss. We see people naked every day. That’s really what I thought. I wasn’t picking on Brad Pitt. But that was just the association in that moment and things we make fusses about and whatever. Of course, it could have been any gorgeous guy.”

Brad Pitt’s Public Response to the Song and Its Replacements

Though Brad Pitt has not publicly addressed never meeting Twain, he has commented on the song, especially after Twain replaced his name with Ryan Reynolds in a 2022 People’s Choice Awards performance. Pitt reacted with good humor and said in a January 2023 interview,

“I think we can share the wealth there,”

referring to the name swap. He added,

“Ryan’s a good egg, too. He deserves some love.”

Pitt suggested the song’s subject could be passed along to other actors, saying,

“I think they oughta pass it on down and next time she oughta sing it to Austin Butler. Maybe Leo [DiCaprio] in between and then Austin Butler.”

Why Twain’s Reference to Pitt Remains Culturally Resonant

Shania Twain’s use of Brad Pitt’s name in her song tapped into a widespread fascination with the actor in the late 1990s, making the lyric memorable and often quoted. The enduring connection between the singer and actor, despite never meeting, highlights how celebrity culture can intertwine in unexpected ways. Twain’s humorous comments reveal the playful side of this lasting cultural reference and keep the conversation about the song alive decades later.