Avril Lavigne

Born in sleepy Napanee, Ontario in 1984, Avril Lavigne displayed her musical gifts by age 2. She quickly found an audience by singing in church choirs and at county fairs, where she covered country artists like Garth Brooks and The Chicks.

In 1999, Lavigne won a radio contest where she got to sing on stage with Shania Twain at an Ottawa concert in front of 20,000 people. She impressed the audience and said she wanted to become a singer. She didn’t have to wait long.

After a 15-minute audition for music executive L.A. Reid, Lavigne was offered a two-album deal with Arista Records, reportedly worth over $1.25 million.

Lavigne’s skater style and anti-authority image that set her apart from the pop stars of the time. She topped the charts with her debut single, “Complicated” in March 2002. Her first album, Let Go, was certified platinum quickly and has sold over 16 million copies. The “Sk8er Boi” singer continued releasing albums, including 2004’s Under My Skin and 2007’s The Best Damn Thing, every few years until 2013.

The performer revealed in 2015 that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease from a tick bite the previous spring. She took a six-year break after her self-titled album to prioritize her health. She also founded The Avril Lavigne Foundation, which raises awareness of the illness, seeks to help prevent the spread and supports scientific research. The charity also helps people struggling with Lyme disease.

The Grammy-nominated singer returned to music in 2019 with her album Head Above Water in 2019. The tour in support of her comeback was delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

She signed with Travis Barker’s label DTA Records in 2021. Her album, Love Sux, was released in February 2022.

Lavigne married Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley in July 2006. Three years later, she filed for divorce in October 2009, citing “irreconcilable differences” in court paperwork. Lavigne married Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger in an intimate 2013 ceremony and filed for divorce two years later. The pair remained friendly amid their split, publicly appearing at events and performing together in the years following their breakup.

In February 2021, Lavigne was featured on Mod Sun’s song “Flames,” and Us Weekly confirmed that the two were dating. In March 2022, she told Us that he was an “incredible songwriter” and she loved collaborating with her beau on her album, Love Sux.