Avril Lavigne

Avril Ramona LavigneCM(/ˈævrɪlləˈviːn/AV-ril lə-VEEN;French:[avʁilʁamɔnalaviɲ]; born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She is a key musician in the development ofpop-punkmusic, as she paved the way for female-driven, punk-influenced pop music in the early 2000s.Her accoladesinclude eightGrammy Awardnominations.
At age 16, Lavigne signed a two-album recording contract withArista Records. Her debut album,Let Go(2002), is thebest-selling album of the 21st century by a Canadian artist. It yielded the successful singles "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi", which emphasized askate punkpersona and earned her the title "Pop-Punk Queen" and "Pop Punk Princess" from music publications. Her second album,Under My Skin(2004), became Lavigne's first to reach the top of theBillboard200chart in the United States, going on to sell 10 million copies worldwide.
Lavigne's third album,The Best Damn Thing(2007), reached number one in seven countries worldwide and saw the international success of its lead single "Girlfriend", which became her first single to reach the top of theBillboardHot 100in the United States. Her next two albums,Goodbye Lullaby(2011) andAvril Lavigne(2013), saw continued commercial success and were both certified gold in Canada, the United States, and other territories. After releasing her sixth album,Head Above Water(2019), she returned to her pop punk roots with her seventh album,Love Sux(2022).
Avril Ramona Lavigne was born on September 27, 1984, inBelleville, Ontario. She was named Avril (theFrenchword for April) by her father.He and Lavigne's mother recognized their child's vocal abilities when she was two years old and sang "Jesus Loves Me" on the way home from church.Lavigne has an older brother named Matthew and a younger sister named Michelle,both of whom teased her when she sang. "My brother used to knock on the wall because I used to sing myself to sleep and he thought it was really annoying."She is the sister-in-law of Japanese bandOne OK RockbassistRyota Kohama.Lavigne's paternal grandfather Maurice Yves Lavigne was born inSaint-Jérôme,Quebec.A member of theRoyal Canadian Air Force, he married Lucie Dzierzbicki, a French native ofMorhangein 1953. Their son, Jean-Claude Lavigne, was born in 1954 atRCAF Station GrostenquinnearGrostenquin,Lorraine.When Jean-Claude was a child, the family moved to Ontario, and in 1975, he married Judith-Rosanne "Judy" Loshaw.
When Lavigne was 5, the family moved to Napanee (now incorporated asGreater Napanee),a town with a population of approximately 5,000 at the time.
To support her musical interests, her father bought her a microphone, a drum kit, a keyboard, and several guitars, and converted their basement into a studio. Her father often played bass at the church the family attended, the Third Day Worship Centre inKingston. When Lavigne was 14 years old, her parents took her to karaoke sessions.
Lavigne performed atcountry fairs, singing songs byGarth Brooks,the Chicks, andShania Twain, and began writing her own songs. Her first song was called "Can't Stop Thinking About You", about a teenage infatuation, which she described as "cheesy cute".
Lavigne also playedhockeyduring high school and wonMost valuable player(MVP) twice as aright wingerin a boys league.
In 1999, Lavigne won a radio contest to perform with Canadian singerShania Twainat theCorel CentreinOttawa, before an audience of 20,000 people.Twain and Lavigne sang Twain's song, "What Made You Say That",and Lavigne told Twain that she aspired to be "a famous singer".During a performance with the Lennox Community Theatre, Lavigne was spotted by local folksinger Stephen Medd. He invited her to contribute vocals on his song, "Touch the Sky", for his 1999 album,Quinte Spirit. She later sang on "Temple of Life" and "Two Rivers" for his follow-up album,My Window to You, in 2000.
In December 1999, Lavigne was discovered by her first professional manager, Cliff Fabri, while singingcountrycovers at aChaptersbookstore inKingston.Fabri sent out VHS tapes of Lavigne's home performances to several industry prospects, and Lavigne was visited by several executives.Mark Jowett, co-founder of a Canadian management firm,Nettwerk, received a copy of Lavigne's karaoke performances recorded in her parents' basement.Jowett arranged for Lavigne to work with producerPeter Zizzoduring the summer of 2000 in New York, where she wrote the song "Why". Lavigne was noticed byArista Recordsduring a trip to New York.
In November 2000,Ken Krongard, anA&Rrepresentative, invitedAntonio "L.A." Reid, then head of Arista Records, to Zizzo's Manhattan studio to hear Lavigne sing. Her 15-minute audition "so impressed" Reid that he immediately signed her to Arista with a deal worth $1.25 million for two albums and an extra $900,000 for a publishing advance.By this time, Lavigne had found that she fit in naturally with her hometown high school's skaterclique, an image that carried through to her first album, but although she enjoyedskateboarding, school left her feeling insecure. Having signed a record deal, and with support from her parents, she left school to focus on her music career.Lavigne's band, which were mostly the members ofCloset Monster, was chosen by Nettwerk, as they wanted young performers who were up and coming from theCanadian punk rockscene who would fit with Lavigne's personality.
Reid gave A&R Joshua Sarubin the responsibility of overseeing Lavigne's development and the recording of her debut album. They spent several months in New York working with different co-writers, trying to forge an individual sound for her. Sarubin toldHitQuartersthat they initially struggled; although early collaborations with songwriter-producers including Sabelle Breer,Curt Frascaand Peter Zizzo resulted in some good songs, they did not match her or her voice. It was only when Lavigne went to Los Angeles in May 2001 and created two songs withthe Matrixproduction team—including "Complicated", later released as her debut single—that the record company felt she had made a major breakthrough. Lavigne worked further with the Matrix and also with singer-songwriterClif Magness. Recording of Lavigne's debut album,Let Go, finished in January 2002.
Lavigne releasedLet Goin June 2002 in the US, where it reached number two on theBillboard200albums chart. It peaked at number one in Australia, Canada, and the UK—this made Lavigne, at 17 years old, the youngest female soloist to have a number-one album on theUK Albums Chartat that time.By the end of 2002, the album was certified four-times Platinum by theRIAA, making her the bestselling female artist of 2002 andLet Gothe top-selling debut of the year.By May 2003,Let Gohad accumulated over 1 million sales in Canada, receiving a diamond certification from theCanadian Recording Industry Association.By 2009, the album had sold over 16 million units worldwide.By March 2018, the RIAA certified the album seven-times Platinum, denoting shipments of over seven million units in the US.
Lavigne's debut single, "Complicated", peaked at number one in Australia and number two in the US. "Complicated" was one of the bestselling Canadian singles of 2002, and one of the decade's biggest hits in the US,where subsequent singles "Sk8er Boi" and "I'm with You" reached the top ten.With these three singles, Lavigne became the second artist in history to have three top-ten songs from a debut album onBillboard'sMainstream Top 40chart.Lavigne was namedBest New Artist(for "Complicated") at the2002 MTV Video Music Awards,won fourJuno Awardsin 2003 out of six nominations,received aWorld Music Awardfor "World's Bestselling Canadian Singer", and was nominated for eightGrammy Awards, includingBest New ArtistandSong of the Yearfor "Complicated".
In 2002, Lavigne made a cameo appearance in the music video for "Hundred Million" by the pop punk bandTreble Charger.In March 2003, Lavigne posed for the cover ofRolling Stonemagazine,and in May she performed "Fuel" during MTV's Icon tribute toMetallica.During her first headlining tour, the Try to Shut Me Up Tour, Lavigne coveredGreen Day's "Basket Case".
Lavigne's second studio album,Under My Skin, was released in May 2004 and debuted at number one in Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK, and the US.The album was certified five-times Platinum in Canadaand has sold 10 million copies,including 3.2 million in the US.Lavigne wrote most of the album's tracks with Canadian singer-songwriterChantal Kreviazuk, and Kreviazuk's husband,Our Lady Peacefront manRaine Maida, co-produced the album withButch Walkerand Don Gilmore. Lavigne said thatUnder My Skinproved her credentials as a songwriter, saying that "each song comes from a personal experience of mine, and there are so much [sic] emotions in those songs"."Don't Tell Me", the lead single off the album, reached the top five in the UK and Canada and the top ten in Australia. "My Happy Ending", the album's second single, was a top five hit in the UK and Australia. In the US, it was a top ten entry on theBillboardHot 100 and became a number-one pop radio hit. The third single, "Nobody's Home", did not manage to make the top 40 in the US and performed moderately elsewhere.
During early 2004 Lavigne went on the 'Live and By Surprise' acoustic mall tour in the US and Canada to promoteUnder My Skin, accompanied by her guitaristEvan Taubenfeld. In September 2004, Lavigne embarked on her first world tour, the year-longBonez Tour. Lavigne won two World Music Awards in 2004, for 'World's Best Pop/Rock Artist' and 'World's Bestselling Canadian Artist' and won three Juno Awards from five nominations in 2005, including 'Artist of the Year'.She also won in the category of 'Favorite Female Singer' at the eighteenth annualNickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
Lavigne co-wrote the song "Breakaway", which was recorded byKelly Clarksonfor the soundtrack to the 2004 filmThe Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement."Breakaway" was released as a single in mid 2004 and subsequently included as the title track on Clarkson's second album,Breakaway. Lavigne performed theGoo Goo Dollssong "Iris" with the band's lead singerJohn RzeznikatFashion Rocksin September 2004,and she posed for the cover ofMaximin October 2004.She recorded the theme song forThe SpongeBob SquarePants Movie(released in November 2004) with producer Butch Walker.
In February 2006, Lavigne represented Canada at theclosing ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics.Fox Entertainment Groupapproached Lavigne to write a song for the soundtrack to the 2006 fantasy-adventure filmEragon; her contribution, "Keep Holding On", was released as a single to promote the film and its soundtrack.
Lavigne's third album,The Best Damn Thing, was released in April 2007 and debuted at number one on the U.S.Billboard200,and subsequently achieved Platinum status in Canada.The album sold more than 2 million copies in the US.Its lead single, "Girlfriend", became Lavigne's first number-one single on the U.S.BillboardHot 100 and one of the decade's biggest singles.The single also peaked at number one in Australia, Canada, and Japan, and reached number two in the UK and France. As well as English, "Girlfriend" was recorded in Spanish, French, Italian,Portuguese, German, Japanese, andMandarin. TheInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industryranked "Girlfriend" as the most-downloaded track worldwide in 2007, selling 7.3 million copies, including the versions recorded in eight different languages."When You're Gone", the album's second single, reached the top five in Australia and the United Kingdom, the top ten in Canada, and the top forty in the US. "Hot" was the third single and charted only at number 95 in the US, although it reached the top 10 in Canada and the top 20 in Australia.
Lavigne won twoWorld Music Awardsin 2007, for 'World's Bestselling Canadian Artist' and 'World's Best Pop/Rock Female Artist'. She won her first twoMTV Europe Music Awards, received aTeen Choice Awardfor 'Best Summer Single', and was nominated for five Juno Awards.In December 2007, Lavigne was ranked number eight inForbesmagazine's list of 'Top 20 Earners Under 25', with annual earnings of $12 million.In March 2008, Lavigne undertook a world tour,The Best Damn World Tour, and appeared on the cover ofMaximfor the second time.In mid-August, Malaysia's Islamic opposition party, thePan-Malaysian Islamic Party, attempted to ban Lavigne's tour show inKuala Lumpur, judging her stage moves "too sexy". It was thought that her concert on August 29 would promote wrong values ahead of Malaysia's Independence Day on August 31.On August 21, 2008, MTV reported that the concert had been approved by the Malaysian government.
In January 2010, Lavigne worked withDisneyto create clothing designs inspired byTim Burton's feature filmAlice in Wonderland. She recorded a song for its soundtrack, "Alice", which was played over the end credits and included on the soundtrack albumAlmost Alice.In February, Lavigne performed at the Vancouver2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.Lavigne's song "I'm with You" was sampled byRihannaon the track "Cheers (Drink to That)", which is featured on Rihanna's fifth album,Loud(2010)."Cheers (Drink to That)" was released as a single the following year, and Lavigne appeared in its music video.In December 2010, American singerMiranda Cosgrovereleased "Dancing Crazy", a song written by Lavigne,Max MartinandShellback. It was also produced by Martin.
Lavigne began recording for her fourth album,Goodbye Lullaby, in her home studio in November 2008. Its opening track, "Black Star", was written to help promote her first fragrance of the same name.Lavigne described the album as being about her life experiences rather than focusing on relationships, and its style as lesspop rockthan her previous material, reflecting her age.The release date forGoodbye Lullabywas delayed several times, which Lavigne said was because of her label.Goodbye Lullabywas released in March 2011,and its lead single, "What the Hell", premiered in December 2010, ahead of the album's release.Goodbye Lullabyreceived Juno Award nominations for Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.By March 2018,Goodbye Lullabysold more than 500,000 copies in the US, and it was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Three months after the release ofGoodbye Lullaby, Lavigne announced that work on her fifth album had already begun, describing it as the musical opposite ofGoodbye Lullabyand "pop and more fun again".In late 2011, she confirmed that she had moved toEpic Records, headed byL. A. Reid.Lavigne contributed two cover songs to the 2012 Japanese animated filmOne Piece Film: Z: "How You Remind Me" (originally byNickelback) and "Bad Reputation" (originally byJoan Jett).
The lead single from Lavigne's fifth album, "Here's to Never Growing Up" (produced byMartin Johnsonof the bandBoys Like Girls), was released in April 2013and reached top 20 positions on theBillboardHot 100, Australia and the UK. The second single, "Rock n Roll", was released in August 2013 and the third, "Let Me Go" (featuring Lavigne's then-husbandChad Kroegerof Nickelback), was released in October 2013. The album, titledAvril Lavigne, was released in November 2013;in Canada, it was certified gold and received a Juno Award nomination for Pop Album of the Year.The fourth single fromAvril Lavigne, "Hello Kitty", was released in April 2014. The music video sparked controversies over racism claims which Lavigne denied.
During mid-2014, Lavigne opened for boy band theBackstreet Boys'In a World Like This Tourand played at theSummer Sonic FestivalinTokyo.She released a music video for "Give You What You Like", the fifth single from her self-titled album on February 10, 2015. The song is featured inLifetime's made-for-TV movie,Babysitter's Black Book.By March 2018, the album sold more than 500,000 copies in the US, and it was certified Gold by the RIAA.
In an April 2015 interview withBillboard, Lavigne announced a new single titled "Fly", which was released on April 26 in association with the2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Lavigne was featured in the song "Listen" from Japanese rock band One Ok Rock's eighth album,Ambitions, released on January 11, 2017.She was also featured in the song "Wings Clipped" byGreywithAnthony Greenfor the duo's debut extended playChameleon, released on September 29, 2017.
Lavigne's sixth albumHead Above Waterwas released on February 15, 2019, throughBMG.The album reached the top ten in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and peaked at number thirteen on the U.S.Billboard200. It was preceded by three singles: "Head Above Water", "Tell Me It's Over" and "Dumb Blonde", with the lead single drawing inspiration from Lavigne's battle withLyme disease.The fourth single, "I Fell in Love with the Devil", was released on June 28, 2019.In support of the album, Lavigne embarked on theHead Above Water Tour, which started on September 14, 2019.European concerts were postponed to 2022 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
On April 24, 2020, Lavigne re-recorded the track "Warrior" from her sixth album and released it as a single, titled "We Are Warriors". The proceeds from the single supportProject HOPE's relief efforts in the COVID-19 pandemic.
On January 8, 2021, "Flames", a collaboration betweenMod Sunand Lavigne, was released.In the subsequent month, Lavigne confirmed recording for her next album had been completed.
On July 16, 2021,Willow Smithreleased her fourth album, titledLately I Feel Everything, with one of the tracks, "Grow", featuring Avril Lavigne andTravis Barker.A music video for the song was released in October of the same year.
After announcing on November 3, 2021, that she had signed with Barker's label DTA Records,Lavigne announced her new single titled "Bite Me", which was released on November 10.On January 13, 2022, Lavigne announced her seventh albumLove Sux.Much of the album was written and produced by Lavigne's then boyfriend, pop punk artist Mod Sun. The second single off the record, "Love It When You Hate Me", was released on January 14, and featured American singerBlackbear.The album was subsequently released on February 25.Love Suxdebuted at number nine on theBillboard200chart,and at number three on theBillboardCanadian Albums chart.
On June 13, 2022, a new edition ofLet Gowas released for the album's 20th anniversary. The record contains six previously unreleased bonus tracks, includingKelly Clarkson's "Breakaway", which was originally written by Lavigne.
On September 13, 2022, Lavigne attended, presented and performed at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Honors at theRyman AuditoriuminNashville, Tennessee. She performed a cover ofShania Twain's "No One Needs to Know" and presented Twain with an ACM Poets Award. The cover received a positive reception.
On October 24, 2022, Lavigne announced the release of a single titled "I'm a Mess" featuring English singerYungbludon November 3, 2022,as the lead single of the deluxe edition ofLove Sux, which was released on November 25.While promoting "I'm a Mess", Lavigne confirmed she was working on her eighth album withJohn Feldmann, Barker, Yungblud andAlex Gaskarthof bandAll Time Low."Fake as Hell", a collaboration between Lavigne and All Time Low, was eventually released as a single on September 15, 2023.On June 9, 2023, Lavigne did a live collaborative performance withcountry musicartistMiranda Lambertduring the 2023CMA FestatNissan Stadiumin Nashville, Tennessee. They performed a mashup of Lambert's "Kerosene" and Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi".
On May 10, 2024, Lavigne announced plans to release agreatest hits albumon June 21, 2024.On May 16, 2024, Lavigne andcountry musicartistNate Smithreleased a collaborative single titled "Bulletproof" that was originally released as a solo single for Smith. Lavigne and Smith performed the song at the 59thAcademy of Country Music Awards.In support of the album, Lavigne embarked herGreatest Hits Tour, which began on May 22, 2024 and concluded on September 18, 2024.On June 30, 2024, Lavigne played the world-famousGlastonbury Festivalin England for the first time, drawing one of the largest crowds ever seen at the Other Stage.
On October 3, 2024, it was reported that Lavigne recorded another collaborative single with Smith titled "Can You Die from a Broken Heart". The song is featured on Smith's sophomore albumCalifornia Goldand it was released as the third single from the album.
During the 2000s decade, most critics and publications identified Lavigne's first three albums as a mix ofpop-punk,alternative rockandpop rockinfluenced by apost-grungesound.Let Gowas classified as a pop rock and alternative rock album with a slightgrungeinfluence. Meanwhile, the singer was compared to other female artists with the same sound, mainlyAlanis Morissette.The albumUnder My Skin, was noticeably darker musically, with heavier production that showcased ballads and rocker songs which incorporated a morepost-grungesound that verged onnu metal,while keeping pop punk power chord influences.The album was seen as anticipating the "emotional intensity and theatrical aesthetics" ofemo-popmusic before it came into the mainstream.Critics compared the album with similar works by contemporary acts at the time likeLinkin ParkandEvanescence, due to its nu metal influence.In contrast,The Best Damn Thingabandoned the alternative and post-grunge style in favour of pop punk tunes. The songs were described as sounding likeToni Basilcheerleading forBlink-182,with Lavigne praised for her ability to combinebubblegum popmelodies withpunk rockriffs.Teen pop's impact on Lavigne's music of this decade was noted, since most of her lyrics were from an adolescent perspective. This made some critics describe her music asalternateenorteen punk.
Later on in the 2010s, her sound went softer and poppier, characterized more by acoustic pop-rock songs and less loud grungy guitar-driven songs that were the signature of her earlier works.With the2020s pop-punk mainstream resurgence, Lavigne went back to her pop-punk roots, embracingemo-popangst,andskate punkinfluences fromNOFX,blink-182,Green Dayandthe Offspring.
Lavigne possesses asopranovocal range.On a review for Lavigne's songSk8er Boi, Pat Blashill ofRolling Stonedescribed her voice as "equal parts baby girl and husky siren".Themes in her music include messages of self-empowerment from a female or an adolescent perspective.Lavigne believes her "songs are about being yourself no matter what and going after your dreams even if your dreams are crazy and even if people tell you they're never going to come true."On her debut album,Let Go, Lavigne preferred the less mainstream songs, such as "Losing Grip", instead of her more radio-friendly singles, such as "Complicated", saying that "the songs I did withthe Matrix... were good for my first record, but I don't want to be that pop anymore."Lavigne's second album,Under My Skin, had deeper personal themes underlying each song, with Lavigne remarking that "I've gone through so much, so that's what I talk about ... Like boys, like dating or relationships."In contrast, her third album,The Best Damn Thing, was not personal to her. "Some of the songs I wrote didn't even mean that much to me. It's not like some personal thing I'm going through."Her objective in writing the album was simply to "make it fun".Goodbye Lullaby, Lavigne's fourth album, was much more personal than her earlier records,with Lavigne describing the album as "more stripped down, deeper. All the songs are very emotional."Ian McKellendefined her as "a punk chanteuse, a post-grunge valkyrie, with the wounded soul of a poet and the explosive pugnacity of a Canadian" onThe Late Late Show with Craig Fergusonin 2007.
While Lavigne said she was not angry, her interviews were still passionate about the media's lack of respect for her songwriting. She said, "I am a writer, and I won't accept people trying to take that away from me", adding that she had been writing "full-structured songs" since she was 14.Despite this, Lavigne's songwriting has been questioned throughout her career. The songwriting trio the Matrix, with whom Lavigne wrote songs for her debut album, said that they were the main songwriters of Lavigne's singles "Complicated", "Sk8er Boi" and "I'm with You". Lavigne said that she was the primary songwriter for every song on the album, stating that "[N]one of those songs aren't from me".
In 2007,Chantal Kreviazuk, who wrote with Lavigne on her second album, accused Lavigne of plagiarismand criticized her songwriting, saying that "Avril doesn't really sit and write songs by herself or anything."Lavigne also disclaimed this, and considered taking legal action against Kreviazuk for "clear defamation" against her character.Kreviazuk later apologized, saying that "Avril is an accomplished songwriter and it has been my privilege to work with her."Shortly after that, Tommy Dunbar, founder of the bandthe Rubinoos, sued Lavigne, her publishing company, andLukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwaldfor allegedly stealing parts of "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" for her song "Girlfriend".Gottwald defended Lavigne, stating, "me and Avril wrote the song together... It has the same chord progressions as ten different Blink-182 songs, the standard changes you'd find in aSum 41song. It's theSex Pistols, not the Rubinoos."In January 2008, a confidential settlement was reached between the parties.
Lavigne's earlier influences came fromcountry musicacts such asGarth Brooks,the Chicks, andShania Twain,andalternativesinger-songwriters such asAlanis Morissette,Lisa Loeb,Natalie Imbruglia, andJanis Joplin.By the time she left school to focus on her music career, Lavigne was musically more influenced byskate punk,pop punk, andpunk rockacts such asBlink-182,the Offspring,Sum 41,NOFX,Pennywise,Dashboard Confessional,Green Day,the Ramones,the Distillers, andHole. She also enjoyedmetalbands such asMarilyn Manson,System of a Down,Incubus, andthe Used, as well asalternativebands such asNirvana,No Doubt, theGoo Goo Dolls,Radiohead,the Cranberries,Coldplay,Oasis,Third Eye Blind, andMatchbox Twenty.
Because of these influences, musical genres, and Lavigne's personal style, the media often defined her aspunk, something she said she was not. Lavigne's close friend and first guitarist,Evan Taubenfeld, said: "It's a very touchy subject to a lot of people, but the point is that Avril isn't punk, but she never really pretended to claim to come from that scene. She had pop punk music and the media ended up doing the rest."Lavigne commented on the matter: "I have been labelled like I'm this angry girl, [a] rebel ... punk, and I amsonot any of them."However, she has also said that her music has punk influences: "I like to listen a lot to punk rock music, you can notice a certain influence of punk in my music. I like an aggressive music, but pretty enough heavy pop-rock, which is what I really do."
When Lavigne first gained publicity, she was known for hertomboyishstyle,in particular her necktie-and-tank-top combinations.She preferred baggy clothes, skater shoes orConverses,wristbands, and sometimes shoelaces wrapped around her fingers.During photo shoots, instead of wearing "glittery get-ups", she preferred wearing "old, crumpled T's".In response to her fashion and musical influences, the media called her the "pop punk princess"and the female answer toBlink-182.Press and fans regarded her as the "anti-Britney", in part because of her less commercial and "real" image, but also because she was noticeably headstrong. "I'm not made up and I'm not being told what to say and how to act, so they have to call me the anti-Britney, which I'm not."By November 2002, however, Lavigne stopped wearing ties, claiming she felt she was "wearing a costume".Lavigne made a conscious effort to keep her music, and not her image, at the forefront of her career.
Lavigne eventually took on a moregothicstyle as she began her second album,Under My Skin, trading her skating outfits for blacktutusand developing an image marked byangst.DuringThe Best Damn Thingyears, Lavigne changed directions. She dyed her hair blonde with a pink streak, wore feminine outfits,including "tight jeans and heels",and modelled for magazines such asHarper's Bazaar.Lavigne defended her new style: "I don't really regret anything. You know, the ties and the wife-beaters and all ... It had its time and place. And now I'm all grown up, and I've moved on".
Lavigne has been the subject ofa conspiracy theorythat posits that she committed suicide in 2003 and was replaced by a body double who had previously been recruited to distract paparazzi. This originated as a joke on a Brazilian blog, but it has since been embraced by some conspiracy theorists in earnest.In an interview with Australia'sKIIS 106.5in November 2018, Lavigne responded to the rumour, stating: "Yeah, some people think that I'm not the real me, which is so weird! Like, why would they even think that?"
Lavigne is considered a highlight in the pop-punk and alternative rock scene, since she helped pave the way for the success of female-driven punk-influenced pop artists such asParamore,Skye Sweetnam,Fefe Dobson,Lillix,Kelly Osbourne,Krystal Meyers,Tonight Alive,Courage My Love, andHey Monday.She has been compared to alternative female singer-songwriters of the 1990s such asAlanis Morissette,Liz Phair, andCourtney Love, earning a reputation as the greatest female representative ofpop-punkmusic, and has been called one of the female singers who best represent2000s rock music.Lavigne also was seen as a fashion icon for herskatepunkand rocker style.Kimberley Schoeman writing for theMail & Guardianhas referred to Lavigne as a "queericon" and a "sweet spot for those realising, "I like boys and girls""."Sk8er Boi", "He Wasn't", and "Girlfriend" are frequently listed among the best pop-punk songs of all time by critics.
Lavigne has influenced a wide array of musical artists, including acts such asTramp Stamps,Bebe Rexha,Billie Eilish,Courage My Love,5 Seconds of Summer,Yungblud,Maggie Lindemann,Tonight Alive,Willow Smith,Amanda Palmer,Misono,Rina Sawayama,Hey Monday,Grey,Ed Sheeran,Kailee Morgue,Charli XCX,MercyMe,Palberta,Yeule,Olivia Rodrigo,andKirstin Maldonado.Amy Studtwas hailed as "the U.K.'s answer" to Avril Lavigne.Lavigne has also had a significant influence onindie rocksinger-songwriters such asPale Waves,Graace,Phoebe Bridgers,Soccer Mommy,Ethel Cain,Snail Mail, andLiz Phair.
On the rise of mid-to-late 2010semo hip hopandemo rap, Lavigne has been noted as an influence on various musicians from that scene, withNylonmagazine notingLil Uzi Vert,Princess Nokia,Lloyd Banks,Vic Mensa,Nipsey Hussle, John River,Noname, andRico Nasty. American rapperFat Tonyexplained that Lavigne's influence on hip hop and rap music comes because "she [Avril] delivered a great visual catchy package [punk music, pop music and skater culture] that describes all of them." Rico Nasty named one of her alter egos, Trap Lavigne, saying "She is a perfect representation of being hard and soft [...] she hated the term punk, but she was so punk rock".
A persistentinternet memeabout a Lavigne-written song called "Dolphins" has been showing up on various lyric sites since 2007, but she did not write or record this song. The lyrics appear on dozens of lyric sites and various bands have recorded cover versions of the song that was never recorded by Lavigne.
Lavigne was featured in the 2003 gameThe Sims: Superstaras anon-playable celebrity.
In mid-2007, Lavigne was featured in a two-volumegraphic novel,Avril Lavigne's Make 5 Wishes. She collaborated with artistCamilla d'Erricoand writerJoshua Dysarton the manga, which was about a shy girl named Hana who, upon meeting her hero, Lavigne, learned to overcome her fears. Lavigne said, "I know that many of my fans read manga, and I'm really excited to be involved in creating stories that I know they will enjoy." The first volume was released in April 2007, and the second followed in July 2007. The publicationYoung Adult Library Servicesnominated the series for "Great Graphic Novels for Teens".
In 2003, Lavigne won an International Achievement Award for the song "Complicated" at theSOCANAwards in Toronto.Lavigne received eightGrammy Awardsnominations in two years, including Best New Artist. She has also received threeAmerican Music Awardsnominations, oneBrit Awardnomination, and oneMTV Video Music Award. Lavigne had sold more than 30 million singles and 40 million copies of her albums worldwide,including over 12.4 million album copies in the US according toBillboard.In 2009,Billboardnamed Lavigne the number 10 pop artist in the "Best of the 2000s" chart.She was listed as the 28th overall best act of the decade based on album and single chart performance in the US.
Lavigne achieved aGuinness World Recordas being the youngest female solo artist to top the UK album chart, on January 11, 2003, at the age of 18 years and 106 days. The albumLet Goreached number one in its 18th chart week.She held the record until 2004, as the UK charts reported thatJoss Stone'sMind Body & Soultook it the following year.She also was the first to reach 100 million views on a YouTube video, with her 2007 single "Girlfriend".Lavigne was the first western artist to do a full tour in China, withThe Best Damn Tourin 2008, and is considered the biggest western artist in Asia, especially in Japan, where her first three albums have sold more than 1 million copies (being the only female Western Artist since the 2000s to achieve this).Lavigne is the only artist to have performed at three differentmulti-sport events: two closing ceremonies of theWinter Olympic Games(Torino 2006andVancouver 2010) and the opening ceremony of the2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.In June 2024, she was conferred with theOrder of Canada.
Lavigne became interested in appearing on television and in feature films. The decision, she said, was her own. Although her years of experience in making music videos was to her advantage, Lavigne admitted her experience in singing removed any fear of performing on camera. She specifically mentioned that the video "Nobody's Home" involved the most "acting".Her first television appearance was in a 2002 episode ofSabrina, the Teenage Witch,performing "Sk8er Boi"with her band in a nightclub.She later made a cameo appearance in the 2004 filmGoing the Distance. The main characters bump into her backstage at theMuchMusic Video Awardsafter her performance of "Losing Grip".
She moved into feature film acting cautiously, deliberately choosing small roles to begin with. In November 2005, after going through an audition to land the role, Lavigne travelled toNew Mexicoto film a single scene in the 2007 film,The Flock.She played Beatrice Bell, the girlfriend of a crime suspect, appearing alongsideClaire DanesandRichard Gere. Gere gave Lavigne acting tips between takes.On her role inThe Flock, Lavigne said, "I did that just to see how it was and to not jump into [mainstream acting] too fast."The Flockwas not released in American theatres, and because it was not released in foreign markets until late 2007, it is not considered Lavigne's debut. The film made $7 million in the foreign box office.
Lavigne's feature film debut was voicing an animated character in the 2006 filmOver the Hedge, based on thecomic strip of the same name. She voiced the character Heather, aVirginia opossum. Lavigne found the recording process to be "easy" and "natural", but she kept hitting the microphone as she gestured while acting. "I'd use my hands constantly and, like, hit the microphone stand and make noises, so [director]Timand [screenwriter]Kareyhad to tell me to hold still.... It's hard to be running or falling down the stairs and have to make those sounds come out of your mouth but keep your body still." Lavigne believed she was hired to perform Heather because of her rock-star status. "[The director] thought I'd give my character... a bit of attitude".The film opened on May 19, 2006, making $38 million over its opening weekend. It went on to gross $336 million worldwide.
In December 2005, Lavigne signed to appear inFast Food Nation, based on the bookFast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal.The fictionalized adaptation, directed byRichard Linklater, traces fast-food hamburgers contaminated with cow feces back to the slaughterhouses.Lavigne played Alice, a high school student intent on freeing the cows.The film opened on November 17, 2006, and remained in theatres for 11 weeks, grossing $2 million worldwide.
BothOver the HedgeandFast Food Nationopened at the 2006Cannes Film Festival, which Lavigne attended. When asked if she would pursue her film career, she stated that she wanted to take her time and wait for the "right parts and the right movies." Lavigne was deliberate in the roles she had chosen, saying "I wanted to start off small and to learn. I wouldn't just want to throw myself into a big part."In August 2006,Canadian Businessmagazine ranked her as the seventh top Canadian actor in Hollywood in their second annual Celebrity Power List ranking. The results were determined by comparing salary, Internet hits, TV mentions, and press hits.In September 2011, Lavigne appeared on theHub Network's televised singing competitionMajors & Minorsas a guest mentor alongside other singers, includingAdam LambertandLeona Lewis.
In July 2008, Lavigne launched the clothing lineAbbey Dawn, featuring a back-to-school collection. It is produced byKohl's, which is the brand's exclusive US retailer. Named after Lavigne's childhood nickname, Abbey Dawn is designed by Lavigne herself.Kohl's describes Abbey Dawn as a "juniors lifestyle brand",which incorporates skull, zebra, and star patterns, purples and "hot pinks and blacks". Lavigne, who wore some of the clothes and jewellery from her line at various concerts before its official launch, pointed out that she was not merely licensing her name to the collection. "I actually am the designer. What's really important to me is that everything fits well and is well-made, so I try everything on and approve it all."The designs were also featured on the Internet gameStardoll, where figures can be dressed up as Lavigne.
On September 14, 2009, Lavigne took the then latest collection of her clothing line to be a part ofNew York Fashion Week,returning in 2011.In December 2010, the clothing line was made available to over 50 countries through the line's official website.
Lavigne released her first fragrance, Black Star, created byProcter & GamblePrestige Products. The fragrance was announced on Lavigne's official website on March 7, 2009. Black Star, which features notes of pink hibiscus, black plum and dark chocolate, was released in summer 2009 in Europe, and later in the US and Canada.When asked what the name meant, Lavigne replied, "I wanted [the bottle] to be a star, and my colours are pink and black, and Black Star resembles being different, and standing out in the crowd, and reaching for the stars; the whole message is just about following your dreams, and it's okay to be unique and be who you are."Black Star won the 2010 Best "Women's Scent Mass" by Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW).Black Star was followed by a second fragrance in July 2010,Forbidden Rose, which took two years to develop.It features notes of red apple, winepeach, black pepper, lotusflower, heliotrope, shellflower, praline agreement, sandalwood, and vanilla.Its message is an extension of Black Star's "follow your dreams",though the tagline for the new perfume is "Dare to Discover".The commercial takes place in agothicgarden setting,where Lavigne, upon entering the garden, finds a single, purple rose.Lavigne launched a third fragrance, Wild Rose, in August 2011 and filmed the commercial for it in late 2010. The tagline for the fragrance is "Dare to discover more".It features notes of mandarin, pink grapefruit, plum, orange blossom, frangipani, blue orchid, musk, sandalwood and crème brûlée.
In January 2010, Lavigne began working with Disney to incorporateAlice in Wonderland-inspired designs into her Abbey Dawn line of clothing.Her designs were exhibited at theFashion Institute of Design & Merchandisingin California beginning in May through September, alongsideColleen Atwood's costumes from the 2010 film.
Lavigne has been involved with many charities, includingMake Some Noise, Amnesty International, Erase MS, AmericanCPR.org,Special Olympics, Camp Will-a-Way, Music Clearing Minefields,US Campaign for Burma,Make-A-Wish FoundationandWar Child. She has also appeared inALDOads with YouthAIDS to raise money to educate people worldwide about HIV/AIDS. Lavigne took part in the Unite Against AIDS concert presented by ALDO in support of UNICEF on November 28, 2007, at theBell Centrein Montréal, Québec, Canada.In November 2010, Lavigne attended theClinton Global Initiative.
Lavigne worked withReverb, a non-profit environmental organization, for her 2005 east coast tour.She covered "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" for War Child'sPeace Songscompilation, and she recorded a cover of theJohn Lennonsong "Imagine" as her contribution to the compilation albumInstant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. Released on June 12, 2007, the album was produced to benefitAmnesty International's campaign to alleviate thecrisis in Darfur.
On December 5, 2009, Lavigne returned to the stage inMexico Cityduring the biggest charity event in Latin America, "Teleton". She performed acoustic versions of her hits "Complicated" and "Girlfriend" with Evan Taubenfeld and band member,Jim McGorman.In 2010, Lavigne was one ofseveral artistswho contributed their voices to a cover ofK'naan's "Wavin' Flag" as a benefit single to help raise money for several charity organizations related to the2010 Haiti earthquake.
On September 14, 2010, Lavigne introduced her charity, "The Avril Lavigne Foundation", which aims to help young people with serious illnesses and disabilitiesand works with leading charitable organizations.The foundation partners with theEaster Seals, Make-A-Wish foundation and Erase MS.Her work with the Make-A-Wish foundation was the inspiration behind her own charity, with Lavigne stating, "I just really wanted to do more."Lavigne said on the foundation's website, "I have always looked for ways to give back because I think it's a responsibility we all share."PhilanthropistTrevor Neilson's 12-person firm,Global Philanthropy Group, advises Lavigne with her foundation as well as several other celebrities, including musicianJohn Legend.
In September 2014, she launched a personal fundraising campaign for theSpecial Olympicsas part of her birthday celebration. Proceeds from her "Team Rockstar" event helped sponsor athletes from around the world competing in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.The athletes were the stars of the music video for "Fly", which was shot in Canada.
In September 2020, Lavigne announced a special livestream concert to raise awareness and funds in the fight against Lyme disease called the #FightLyme concert. The concert took place on October 25, with proceeds from all tickets and merchandise going to the Global Lyme Alliance, achronic Lyme diseaseadvocacy group,and her charity, the Avril Lavigne Foundation.
After winning her fourth Juno Award in April 2003, in reference to theIraq War, Lavigne said, "I don't believe war is a way to solve problems. I think it's wrong .... I don't have that much respect for [U.S. President George]Bush." She also said that she was "really proud" of thenPrime Minister of CanadaJean Chrétienfor keeping Canada out of the war.
As well as having some unique designs, most of Lavigne's tattoos match those of her friends.Lavigne had a star tattooed on the inside of her left wrist that was created at the same time as friend and musical associateBen Moody's identical tattoo.In late 2004, she had a small pink heart around the letter "D" applied to her right wrist, which represented her then-boyfriend, Deryck Whibley.Lavigne and then-husband Whibley got matching tattoos in March 2010, in celebration of his 30th birthday.In April 2010, Lavigne added another tattoo on her wrist, that of a lightning bolt and the number 30.
Her love of tattoos, however, gained media attention in May 2010, after Lavigne andBrody Jennereach got matching tattoos of the word "fuck" on their ribs.Lavigne appeared in the June/July cover story forInkedmagazine, where she discussed and showed off her tattoos, including an "Abbey Dawn" on her left forearm and an "XXV" and star on her right. Although she confirmed the "fuck" tattoo verbally in the article, she had it applied after the magazine's photo shoot.She added that she eventually wanted to get a "big-ass heart with a flag through it with a name ... I'm going to wait a few years and make sure I still want it then. I have to wait for that special someone to come back into my life."In July 2010, Lavigne had her then-boyfriend's name, "Brody", tattooed beneath her right breast.In 2018, Lavigne got a traditional heart shaped tattoo with then boyfriend JaKeb Allen Munn.
Lavigne's father was born in France, and throughjus sanguinis, she applied for a French passport, which she received in February 2011.In January 2012, Lavigne sold her house inBel-Air(on the market since May 2011),and moved to Paris to study the French language. She rented an apartment and attended aBerlitzschool.
Lavigne andSum 41lead vocalist/rhythm guitaristDeryck Whibleybegan dating when Lavigne was 19 years old, after being friends since she was 17.In June 2005, Whibley proposed to her.The couple married on July 15, 2006, inMontecito, California. On October 9, 2009, Lavigne filed for divorce,citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason.Lavigne stated, "I am grateful for our time together, and I am grateful and blessed for our remaining friendship."The divorce was finalized on November 16, 2010.
Lavigne started datingThe HillsstarBrody Jennerin February 2010.After almost two years of dating, the couple split in January 2012.
Lavigne began dating fellow Canadian musicianChad Kroeger, frontman of the bandNickelback, in July 2012.The relationship blossomed after they began working together in March 2012 to write and record music for Lavigne's fifth album.Lavigne and Kroeger became engaged in August 2012, after one month of dating.The couple married at theChâteau de la Napoule, a reconstructed medieval castle on the Mediterranean in the South of France, on July 1, 2013, after a year of being together.On September 2, 2015, Lavigne announced her separation from Kroeger via her officialInstagramaccount,and they later divorced.
Lavigne began dating billionaire heirPhillip Sarofimin 2018. She broke up with him in 2019.It was reported byPeoplemagazinethat she began dating musician Pete Jonas in 2020.She later began datingMod Sunaround March 2021. In April 2022, Lavigne used her social media accounts to announce their engagement, which ended in February 2023.
In April 2015, Lavigne revealed toPeoplemagazine that she had been diagnosed withLyme diseaseafter her 30th birthday in 2014.In an interview withBillboardthat same month, Lavigne said that she was in the recovery process and that she wanted to increase awareness of the disease.
Lavigne has been referred to as a vegan or a vegetarian, though she has not discussed her diet publicly.