[12] According to Arabian Woman, "as a girl who grew up in the midst of a bloody civil war, Canaan was breaking down seemingly insurmountable barriers ... She rocked the establishment".

[14] At the age of eight, she was awarded the first place prize (in a contest in which all grades competed against each other) by her French elementary school, College des Saints-Coeurs, Bikfaya, for a poem she composed about a child who wept for being scolded for trivial matters such as staining her fingers with ink when she writes.

It is incredible that amidst the state of civil war that existed in Lebanon at that time, when most people had no idea if they would see another day, she managed to keep her ambitions alive".

[14][17][15][18][19] Since her first public appearance, Canaan held over 25 sell-out concerts in the country from 1984 to 1988, and despite the risks and dangers of warring militias and armies, recorded her songs for radio, and topped the charts in Lebanon.

[2] In 1987, Canaan embarked on a solo career,[2] performing her original compositions, such as "To Oblivion and Back", "Does it Need Some Action", "A Hard Situation", "Hey Richie", and "The Christmas Wish", all which were radio hits.

In Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon, Canaan performed in front of a sold-out crowd under tight security despite having received death threats.

[20] In 1988, she held sell-out concerts for three consecutive nights at Casino du Liban,[5][21] the last performer to grace its stage until it resumed activity following the end of the Liberation War in 1990.

[5] Canaan's international breakthrough was widely reported on by the Arab media,[4][5][22][23][24][25] Al-Hayat writing that she had " ... invaded the European market with her ballads".

[4] Also in 1991, Canaan signed a two-year contract with London-based production company Spinny Music (led by Queen manager Jim Beach) to write and record her original songs "Shine",[27] "Never Set You Free",[28] "So Much to Give",[29] "Desire",[30] "Love",[31] and a cover of Shirley Bassey's English version of "Never Never Never",[32] produced by David Richards at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland.

"[45] In early 2000, "Guardian Angel", Canaan's duet with Robin Scott,[46] appeared on M's album Famous Last Words, released by BMG Music.

[47] Canaan's second single, "The Sound of Love",[48] produced by Barry Blue and The Rapino Brothers[39] and recorded at the Maison Rouge Studios in London,[48] was released in 1997.

In 1998, Canaan's recordings, made in New York City at Jay Ward's Dogbrain Music, were exhibited on billboardtalentnet.com, a web site promoting unsigned talent, and appeared on its RadioBTN top 10 chart.

[14][17][70][71] She reportedly made generous donations to the Children's Care Unit of Salmaniyah Hospital,[53] Child Fund International (CFI), and St. Jude's Hospital, and has performed at charity and fundraiser events including American Women's Club,[71] Salmaniyah Hospital (Children's Care Unit),[53] Beirut Rotary Club, American Community School,[72] Association pour la Promotion Feminine,[73][74] Caritas Internationalis (Liban),[75] Centre Renee Wehbe Le Vieillard Malade, Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA),[76] Lions Beirut Code Club,[77] Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP),[8] Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts, Al-Jana (ARCPA),[8] Social Support Society Active Ageing House,[25] NASMA Foundation,[8] and Association Amour et Partage.

[70] In 2014, Canaan was interviewed by America-based Global Sorority Foundation for their documentary film series as a prime example for young girls worldwide to overcome adversity and raise awareness for gender equality.