Anyone who grew up watching Quebec television in the 1970s likely remembers the energetic variety show Les Tannants, at whose heart was Shirley Théroux, a singer and host whose career began with a talent contest win in 1963 and led her to become one of the province’s most recognizable entertainers. Her story offers a window into the golden age of Quebec variety television and the enduring appeal of a performer who started singing at age five.
Born: November 29, 1945 ·
Age: 78 (as of 2024) ·
Nationality: Canadian (Quebec) ·
Occupation: Singer, television host ·
Years active: 1960s–present ·
Notable album: C’est beau un homme (2000)
Quick snapshot
- Born November 29, 1945 in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- Won Découvertes de Yoland Guérard talent contest in 1963 (Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster))
- Co-hosted Les Tannants from 1972 to 1977 (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)) (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- Alive as of 2024, age 78 (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- Specific details about spouse and children beyond marriage to Pierre Marcotte and son Bruno-Pierre
- Nature of any health issues or illness
- Net worth and awards won
- 1963: Breakthrough win at talent contest (Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster))
- 1972-1977: Co-hosts Les Tannants (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- 2000: Releases album C’est beau un homme
- 2024: Still active in public appearances
- No public retirement announcement; future appearances likely
- Potential for biography or archival release of her television work
Six key facts, one pattern: Théroux’s career is anchored in a single breakthrough decade but continues to resonate with Quebec audiences.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shirley Théroux |
| Birth Date | November 29, 1945 |
| Birth Place | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation | Singer, television host |
| Years Active | 1960s–present |
| Notable Work | C’est beau un homme (album) |
Who is Shirley Théroux?
What is Shirley Théroux known for?
Shirley Théroux is a Québécoise singer and television host who rose to fame in the 1960s after winning the final of Découvertes de Yoland Guérard on Télé-Métropole in 1963 (Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster)). She was 17 years old at the time and had been singing since age 5. Her career is defined by a dual presence in music and television, notably as co-host of the wildly popular variety show Les Tannants from 1972 to 1977 on Télé-Métropole (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)).
When was Shirley Théroux born?
She was born on November 29, 1945, in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)).
Théroux’s early start at age 5 and her 1963 win gave her a platform that few Quebec child performers of the era managed to sustain. The talent contest turned her into a household name before she turned 20.
The contrast between her early breakthrough and the limited later documentation is striking.
What are Shirley Théroux’s career highlights?
What albums has Shirley Théroux released?
Her early discography includes Le nez dans le vent (1967), Une histoire d’amour (1971), and Fais comme l’oiseau (1973) (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)). Later releases include Chante l’amour (1978) and On ne meurt pas à quarante ans (1987). In 2000 she released the album C’est beau un homme, which remains her most cited work.
What songs is Shirley Théroux famous for?
Beyond her albums, she is best known for songs released during the 1970s, a period when she also achieved international recognition. She won the Festival international de la chanson française in 1973 in France (Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster)). After the win, Philips reportedly offered to record a disc for her in France, but she chose to return to Quebec and join Les Tannants instead.
The pattern: a deliberate local focus over international expansion.
What television shows has Shirley Théroux hosted?
Did Shirley Théroux work as a television host?
Yes, she co-hosted the variety show Les Tannants alongside Pierre Marcotte and Joël Denis from 1972 to 1977 (Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster)). The show was a supper-hour phenomenon in Quebec and became a major success for Télé-Métropole (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)).
What is her role at Radio-Canada?
She is described as a former employee of Radio-Canada, working as an auteur-compositeur-interprète and television host. Her television work extended beyond Les Tannants into other variety programming, though specific show titles are not widely documented.
Les Tannants defined Quebec’s variety television format in the 1970s, and Théroux’s role as a female co-host was a rarity at the time. Her decision to stay in Quebec rather than pursue a European career shaped the show’s local appeal.
The implication: her television legacy is tightly tied to a single show, but its cultural impact endures.
Is Shirley Théroux still alive?
What is Shirley Théroux’s current age?
Shirley Théroux is alive as of 2024 at age 78. Her birth date of November 29, 1945 is confirmed by multiple sources (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)).
Has Shirley Théroux retired?
There is no public announcement of retirement. She remains active in public appearances and continues to have a presence on streaming platforms, with 647 monthly listeners on Spotify as of 2024.
What is known about Shirley Théroux’s family?
Does Shirley Théroux have children?
She married Pierre Marcotte, her co-host from Les Tannants. Their son, Bruno-Pierre, was born in 1982 (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)). Beyond this, public information about other children or family members is not available in major biographical sources.
Who is Shirley Théroux’s husband?
Pierre Marcotte was her husband and co-host. The marriage took place during the Les Tannants era (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)).
The catch: the sparse public record leaves many questions unanswered.
Timeline signal
- 1945 — Born in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- 1963 — Wins talent contest Découvertes de Yoland Guérard (Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster))
- 1972–1977 — Co-hosts Les Tannants (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- 1973 — Wins Festival international de la chanson française in France (Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster))
- 1982 — Son Bruno-Pierre is born (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- 2000 — Releases album C’est beau un homme
- 2024 — Still alive and active, age 78
The timeline highlights a career bookended by a 1960s breakthrough and ongoing public presence.
Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Birth date and place: November 29, 1945 in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- Career as a singer and television host
- Won Découvertes de Yoland Guérard in 1963 (Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster))
- Co-hosted Les Tannants (1972–1977) (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- Married Pierre Marcotte, son Bruno-Pierre born 1982 (Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia))
- Alive as of 2024
What’s unclear
- Specific details about spouse beyond Pierre Marcotte
- Nature of any health issues or illness
- Net worth
- Awards and honors received
The confirmed facts are few but solid; the unclear areas highlight the limits of public documentation.
Quotes and perspectives
Shirley Théroux is a Quebec singer and television host.Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)
She began singing at age 5 and won the Découvertes de Yoland Guérard contest at 17.Radio-Canada (Quebec public broadcaster)
Les Tannants was a major success in Quebec television, a supper-hour variety phenomenon.Wikipedia (French-language encyclopedia)
These perspectives frame her as a figure of sustained cultural relevance.
For Quebec entertainment historians, the gap between Théroux’s confirmed television stardom and the sparse documentation of her later life represents a missed opportunity. The implication: a performer who shaped 1970s Quebec variety culture deserves a fuller biography than the public record currently provides. For fans of Quebec chanson, the choice is clear: enjoy the available music and television archives, or advocate for a more comprehensive retrospective.
youtube.com, 7jours.ca, journaldemontreal.com, ledevoir.com, ici.radio-canada.ca, imdb.com
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find Shirley Théroux’s music?
Her music is available on streaming platforms including Spotify and Deezer, as well as through physical album releases from her discography.
Does Shirley Théroux have a Facebook page?
Yes, she has an official Facebook page with updates and archival content.
What is Shirley Théroux’s nationality?
She is Canadian, specifically from the province of Quebec.
What genre of music does Shirley Théroux perform?
She performs French-language pop chanson, typical of Quebec variety music from the 1960s and 1970s.
Is Shirley Théroux on Instagram?
She does not have a widely known Instagram presence; most of her online activity is through Facebook and streaming platforms.
What is Shirley Théroux’s birth name?
Her birth name is Shirley Théroux. She has not used a stage name.
Did Shirley Théroux collaborate with Michel Fugain?
There is no confirmed collaboration between Shirley Théroux and Michel Fugain in available biographical sources.
Related stories
Jonathan MacDonald is Editor-in-Chief at Civic Maple, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.