About
Avril Lavigne is a Canadian pop-rock sensation known for her grungy sound and edgy image. Her punk-inspired pop anthems “Complicated” and “Sk8r Boi” are still some of the most played songs of the 2000s.
Lavigne was born into a Christian home in Ontario, Canada, where she sang from an early age in church choirs and county fairs. Early on in her songwriting career, Lavigne focused on country music and contributed vocals to folk artist Steve Medd’s music. At 16, she was taken under the wing of Arista Records CEO Antonio Reid, upon which she dropped out of high school and moved to Manhattan.
Despite working on country songs with Arista’s producers, Lavigne became interested in rock music, and was eventually sent to Los Angeles where she reinvented her image as an edgier pop-punk artist. Let Go, released in 2002, propelled Lavigne to stardom with the hit singles “Complicated,” “Sk8r Boi,” “Losing Grip,” and “I’m With You.” This album made Lavigne the youngest female artist ever to go number one in the U.K., and led to a world tour and eight Grammy nominations.
Lavigne’s 2004 follow-up, Under My Skin, took on a more serious tone, discussing issues of premarital sex, death, and depression. The album went platinum and reached number one in 10 countries. One of the songs from the album, “Breakaway,” was cut before release and later given to Kelly Clarkson, who went on to win several Grammys with the song and its same-titled accompanying album.
Two years later, Lavigne made her film debut in Over the Hedge while working on her third album. The Best Damn Thing was released in 2007, and spawned the singer’s most popular U.S. single, “Girlfriend.” Following this album and a breakup with her husband Deryck Whibley, Lavigne put out 2011’s Goodbye Lullaby. She then began dating Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger, with whom she co-wrote eight songs. After being diagnosed with Lymes disease in 2015, Lavigne took a long break from the spotlight, but returned in 2019 with Head Above Water, an inspirational pop album which dealt with her battle against the disease and surprisingly made the Christian radio top 10.
Lavigne gives performances regularly, and can be booked for private parties and corporate entertainment events.
