Avril Lavigne

Career Debut: Let Go (2002) and Under My Skin (2004)

Avril Lavigne began singing gospel music in church as a child, and then went on to belt out country songs at music festivals and talent contests before Arista Records discovered her. She moved from her small hometown of Napanee, Ontario, to New York City at age 16, and then headed to Los Angeles to finish Let Go, her 2002 debut album.

"Complicated, "Sk8er Boi," "Losing Grip" and "I'm With You" were all major hits from Let Go. With tutelage from Vancouver-based Nettwerk Management, Lavigne sold more than 15 million copies of the album around the world. She received a diamond award for selling a million copies in Canada from Prime Minister Jean Chrétien when she was in Ottawa for the 2003 Juno Awards. While there, she also won Junos for best album, best new artist, best pop artist and best single ("Complicated") of the year. Lavigne's brash attitude, knack for coming up with catchy pop tunes and eclectic sense of fashion made her an icon among young female fans who made her My World DVD a popular purchase in 2003.

In May 2004, Lavigne followed Let Go with the release of Under My Skin, which was preceded by the release of two popular singles: "Don't Tell Me" and "Take Me Away." The songs "My Happy Ending," "Nobody's Home," "He Wasn't"and "Fall to Pieces" were also on the album. Unlike on Lavigne's previous album, where she worked with the American hit-making team The Matrix, she concentrated on writing her own songs and collaborated with new producers like Butch Walker (of the Marvelous 3), Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Pearl Jam) and Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace). Lavigne also worked closely with fellow Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk on six songs. Under My Skin sold more than 500,000 copies in Canada and 8 million globally. It also earned Lavigne the 2005 Juno Fan Choice Award as well as for artist and pop album of the year. She was unable to accept the awards in person, however, because of international touring commitments.

The Best Damn Thing (2007) and Other Collaborations

Avril Lavigne again worked with a number of producers on her third studio album, The Best Damn Thing, which was released in April 2007. Her collaborators included Walker again, Dr Luke, Sum 41's Deryck Whibley (whom Lavigne married in July 2006) and Rob Cavallo. Former Blink-182 member Travis Barker and Josh Freese played drums. The record topped sales charts in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, Italy, Taiwan and several other countries. It sold more than 300,000 copies in Canada and 5 million worldwide. The lead single "Girlfriend" became a worldwide hit. "When You're Gone," "Hot," and the title track “The Best Damn Thing” were also successful. Lavigne toured extensively in support of the album and released a DVD titled The Best Damn Tour: Live in Toronto in July 2008.

Lavigne collaborated with Whibley on a new album, despite their divorce announcement in September 2009. Although they continued to work together, progress in the studio was affected and contributed to the record's release being delayed, scheduled for the latter half of 2010.

"Alice (Underground)," written by Lavigne and produced by Butch Walker, was chosen as the end credit song to director Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland film and was included on the movie's soundtrack, Almost Alice. Lavigne also co-wrote the worldwide hit "Breakaway," which was sung by Kelly Clarkson and included in the soundtrack of the film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

Goodbye Lullaby (2011) and Avril Lavigne (2013)

Goodbye Lullaby was released in March 2011. All of its more stripped-down songs were either written or co-written by Avril Lavigne. The album reached No. 1 in Japan, Australia, Greece, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Czech Republic, while hitting No. 2 in Canada, where it was nominated for the 2012 album and pop album of the year's Juno Awards.

Lavigne announced that she was working on her next album three months after the release of Goodbye Lullaby and said that it would be a return to the more upbeat style of earlier records. Her self-titled album is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2013. Nickelback singer and guitarist Chad Kroeger assisted with the record, and it was announced in August 2012 that he and Lavigne were engaged.

Head Above Water (2019) and Love Sux (2022)

In 2015, Avril Lavigne announced that she was suffering from Lyme disease, prompting her to take a break from music. Four years later, she released a new album entitled Head Above Water, whose title was inspired by her battle with the disease. Head Above Water received positive reviews and marked a long-awaited comeback for the Canadian singer. The album dealt with personal and emotional subjects linked to her battle with illness, as well as her second divorce, with a more mature and introspective approach.

Lavigne announced the release of her seventh studio album in 2018. Love Sux, which was released in February 2022, marks a musical evolution while remaining true to the singer's iconic pop-punk style. Her collaborations include Machine Gun Kelly, Blackbear and blink-182's Mark Hoppus. The singles “Bite Me” and “Love It When You Hate Me” received particular attention, especially for their return to the pop-punk roots that made the Canadian artist famous. Love Sux was well received by critics and fans alike.

In 2022, Lavigne celebrated the 20th anniversary of her very first album with a series of concerts and a special rerelease of Let Go. She continues to be an influential figure in pop-rock music, demonstrating resilience and an ability to reinvent herself throughout her career. In 2024, Avril Lavigne announced the Greatest Hits Tour, a new North American tour starting in May 2024 and scheduled to finish in June 2025.

Social Commitment and Recognition

Avril Lavigne has been involved in the fight against Lyme disease for many years, particularly through the Avril Lavigne Foundation. She offers her support to people with disabilities or suffering from serious illnesses. In 2015, she also became an ambassador for the Special Olympics sports organization, following several years of contributions and social commitment. She wrote the charity song “Fly” for the 2015 Summer Games.

In 2022, with the release of Love Sux, the special rerelease of Let Go and the accompanying tour, the singer was back in the media and industry spotlight. A series of awards followed, cementing Lavigne's status within Canadian culture. On 31 August 2022, she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The following year, she was also inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame at a special ceremony on 2 December 2023. In June 2024, Governor General Mary Simon announced Lavigne's appointment to the Order of Canada in recognition of her contribution to Canadian music and the arts, and for her support of victims of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, through the Avril Lavigne Foundation.

Awards

Juno Awards

• New Artist of the Year (2003)
• Album of the Year (Let Go) (2003)
• Pop Album of the Year (Let Go) (2003)
• Single of the Year (“Complicated”) (2003)
• Artist of the Year (2005)
• Fan Choice Award (2005)
• Pop Album of the Year (Under My Skin) (2005)
• Fan Choice Award (2019)
• Fan Choice Award (2020)
• Fan Choice Award (2023)

MuchMusic Video Awards

• Best International Video by a Canadian (“Sk8erBoy”) (2003)
• People's Choice: Favourite Canadian Artist (“Sk8erBoy”) (2003)
• Best International Video by a Canadian (“Don’t Tell Me”) (2004)
• People's Choice: Favourite Canadian Artist (“Don’t Tell Me”) (2005)
• Best International Video by a Canadian (“Girlfriend”) (2007)
• People's Choice: Favourite Canadian Artist (“Girlfriend”) (2007)
• UR Fave: Artist (“When You’re Gone”) (2008)
• International Video of the Year by a Canadian (“Here’s To Never Growing Up”) (2013)

SOCAN Awards

• International Achievement (“Complicated”) (2003)
• Pop/Rock Music Award (“Complicated”) (2003)
• Pop/Rock Music Award (“Sk8erBoy”) (2003)
• Pop/Rock Music Award (“I’m With You”) (2004)
• Pop/Rock Music Award (“Breakaway”) (2006)
• SOCAL Salutes (“Girlfriend”) (2008)
• Pop/Rock Music Award (“Girlfriend”) (2008)
• Pop/Rock Music Award (“Keep Holding On”) (2008)
• Pop/Rock Music Award (“When You’re Gone”) (2008)

Teen Choice Awards

• Best Single (“Sk8erBoy”) (2003)
• International Female Artist of the Year (2004)
• Best Single (“Girlfriend”) (2008)

Other Notable Awards

• Best International New Artist of the Year, MTV Video Music Awards (2002)
• Youngest female solo artist to top the British Guinness Book of Records chart
• Diamond Award (Let Go) (2002)
• Best International Female Artist of the Year, Comet Awards (2004)
• World's Best Pop/Rock Artist, World Music Awards (2004)
• World's Best-Selling Canadian Artist, World Music Awards (2004)
• Inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame (2023)
• Member of the Order of Canada (2024)

Discography

• Let Go (2002)
• Under My Skin (2004)
• The Best Damn Thing (2007)
• Goodbye Lullaby (2011)
• Avril Lavigne (2013)
• Head Above Water (2019)
• Love Sux (2022)