Lavigne, Avril (1984– )

Canadian pop singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Her original skater punk image, sassy lyrics, and all-boy back-up band gained her young audiences of both sexes. Her hit single ‘Complicated’ from her first album, Let Go (2002), dominated pop charts and record sales that year. She followed with the album Under My Skin in 2004.

She sang with her church choir as a child and later at country music fairs. At the age of 13 she won the grand prize in a radio station contest, a trip to Ottawa, Canada, to perform with US country singer Shania Twain. During a trip to New York City she met Arista Records' Antonio ‘LA’ Reid, who signed her to the label when she was just 16. After doing some recording in New York she moved to Los Angeles, California, where producer Cliff Magness helped her to develop her own image and music. Let Go went platinum within five weeks of its release.

She grew up in the small town of Napanee, Ontario. After achieving two bestselling albums, she leant her voice to the animated film Over the Hedge and appeared in the fast-food industry expose Fast Food Nation (both 2006).