Avril Ramona Lavigne (pronounced AV-ril l?-VEEN; born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress.
She had performed on stage with Shania Twain by the age of 15, and by the age of 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more than $2 million. Let Go (2002), her debut studio album, emphasised a skate punk character, earning her the epithet “Pop Punk Queen” from critics and music journals due to her success and influence in the industry.
Lavigne has been recognised as a key musician in the development of pop punk music since she cleared the path for female-driven, punk-influenced pop songs.
Lavigne has sold over 40 million albums and 50 million singles worldwide since her professional debut, making her the third-best-selling Canadian female artist of all time, trailing only Celine Dion and Shania Twain.Lavigne’s breakthrough single “Complicated” reached number one in various countries around the world, making her the youngest female soloist to have a number-one album in the United Kingdom.
Under My Skin (2004), Lavigne’s second studio album, became her first to top the Billboard 200 list in the United States, selling 10 million copies worldwide.
The Best Damn Thing (2007), Lavigne’s third studio album, debuted at number one in seven countries and acquired international success with its lead single “Girlfriend,” which became her first single to top the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Goodbye Lullaby (2011) and Avril Lavigne (2013), her fourth and fifth studio albums, were both certified gold in Canada, the United States, and other territories.
Head Above Water, Lavigne’s sixth studio album, was released in February 2019 by BMG. Aside from music, Lavigne has also voiced Heather, a Virginia opossum, in the animated feature Over the Hedge (2006) and made her movie acting debut in Fast Food Nation (2006).