Avril Lavigne Whibley[11] (born September 27, 1984), better known by her birth name of Avril Lavigne (pronounced /ˈævrɨl ləˈviːn/), is a Canadian Grammy Award-nominated rock singer, songwriter, fashion designer, and actress. In 2006, Canadian Business Magazine ranked her the seventh most powerful Canadian in Hollywood.[12]
Lavigne's debut album, Let Go, was released in 2002. Over 16 million copies were sold worldwide[13] and it was certified six times platinum in the United States.[14] Her second and third albums sold less well, Under My Skin (2004) at over 9 million copies and The Best Damn Thing (2007) currently over 5.3 million copies[15]; the latter reached number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. Lavigne has scored six number one songs worldwide and a total of eleven top ten hits, including "Complicated", "Sk8er Boi", "I'm With You", "My Happy Ending" and "Girlfriend," which became #1 hits in the ARC Top 40.[16] In December 2007, Lavigne was ranked at #7 in the Forbes "Top 20 Earners Under 25", with annual earnings of $12 million.[17] Currently, Avril Lavigne has sold about 30 million albums worldwide.
Background
Lavigne was born in Belleville, Ontario on September 27, 1984, the daughter of Judy and John Lavigne.[18][19] Lavigne's birth name is usually pronounced in an anglicized way as above ("La-Veen"). In French, it is commonly pronounced /avʁil laˈviɲ/ (help·info)). Avril is French for "April", while la vigne means "the vineyard". Her French-Canadian parents are devoutly Baptist.[20] She has an elder brother, Matthew, and a younger sister, Michelle.[21] Lavigne's mother was the first to spot young Lavigne’s talent. At the age of 2, Lavigne began singing along with her mother on church songs. The family moved to Napanee, Ontario, when Lavigne was 5-years-old.
In 1998, Lavigne won a competition to sing with fellow Canadian singer Shania Twain on her first major concert tour. She appeared alongside Twain at her concert in Ottawa, appearing on stage to sing "What Made You Say That." She was discovered by her first professional manager, Cliff Fabri, while singing country covers at a Chapters bookstore in Kingston, Ontario.[18] During a performance with the Lennox Community Theatre, Lavigne was spotted by local folk singer Steve Medd, who invited her to sing on his song, "Touch the Sky," for his 1999 album, Quinte Spirit. She also sang on, "Temple of Life," and, "Two Rivers," for his follow up album, My Window to You, in 2000.[18]
At the age of 16, she was signed by Ken Krongard, the artists-and-repertoire (A&R) representative of Arista Records, who invited the head of Arista, Antonio "L.A." Reid, to hear her sing at the New York City studio of producer Peter Zizzo.[18]
She then completed work on her first album, Let Go. The Matrix, who worked extensively with Lavigne on the album, commented on her songwriting, saying, "We had a fabulous and unique experience with Avril, who was then a 16-year-old rapidly growing songwriter with tremendous raw talent. The songs were conceived on piano and guitar by four people: The Matrix (3) and Avril. Avril was instrumental in the songs' creation. We were all very close during the making of the record.
Film career
Lavigne made her film debut in the animated film Over the Hedge, which is based on the comic strip of same name. She worked alongside William Shatner, Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Wanda Sykes, Nick Nolte and Steve Carell. She is also acting in the Richard Gere film The Flock,[57] as the girlfriend of a crime suspect, and her third project was Fast Food Nation, based on her favorite book. Lavigne wrote and recorded a song titled "Keep Holding On" with Dr. Luke, for the Eragon film soundtrack; it was included on her third album, The Best Damn Thing. The song was released for digital download on November 28, and made its worldwide debut on radio on November 17.[58] It reached the top spot on the Canadian top twenty. She also recorded the theme song for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.
Lavigne made a cameo in the film Going the Distance and also appeared in an episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, performing "Sk8er Boi" with her band.
It was reported by the British publication The London Paper that she recently landed a lead role in an upcoming film. "I've got a film role coming up - something you wouldn't expect from me, something deep and dark.
Lavigne's debut album, Let Go, was released in 2002. Over 16 million copies were sold worldwide[13] and it was certified six times platinum in the United States.[14] Her second and third albums sold less well, Under My Skin (2004) at over 9 million copies and The Best Damn Thing (2007) currently over 5.3 million copies[15]; the latter reached number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. Lavigne has scored six number one songs worldwide and a total of eleven top ten hits, including "Complicated", "Sk8er Boi", "I'm With You", "My Happy Ending" and "Girlfriend," which became #1 hits in the ARC Top 40.[16] In December 2007, Lavigne was ranked at #7 in the Forbes "Top 20 Earners Under 25", with annual earnings of $12 million.[17] Currently, Avril Lavigne has sold about 30 million albums worldwide.
Background
Lavigne was born in Belleville, Ontario on September 27, 1984, the daughter of Judy and John Lavigne.[18][19] Lavigne's birth name is usually pronounced in an anglicized way as above ("La-Veen"). In French, it is commonly pronounced /avʁil laˈviɲ/ (help·info)). Avril is French for "April", while la vigne means "the vineyard". Her French-Canadian parents are devoutly Baptist.[20] She has an elder brother, Matthew, and a younger sister, Michelle.[21] Lavigne's mother was the first to spot young Lavigne’s talent. At the age of 2, Lavigne began singing along with her mother on church songs. The family moved to Napanee, Ontario, when Lavigne was 5-years-old.
In 1998, Lavigne won a competition to sing with fellow Canadian singer Shania Twain on her first major concert tour. She appeared alongside Twain at her concert in Ottawa, appearing on stage to sing "What Made You Say That." She was discovered by her first professional manager, Cliff Fabri, while singing country covers at a Chapters bookstore in Kingston, Ontario.[18] During a performance with the Lennox Community Theatre, Lavigne was spotted by local folk singer Steve Medd, who invited her to sing on his song, "Touch the Sky," for his 1999 album, Quinte Spirit. She also sang on, "Temple of Life," and, "Two Rivers," for his follow up album, My Window to You, in 2000.[18]
At the age of 16, she was signed by Ken Krongard, the artists-and-repertoire (A&R) representative of Arista Records, who invited the head of Arista, Antonio "L.A." Reid, to hear her sing at the New York City studio of producer Peter Zizzo.[18]
She then completed work on her first album, Let Go. The Matrix, who worked extensively with Lavigne on the album, commented on her songwriting, saying, "We had a fabulous and unique experience with Avril, who was then a 16-year-old rapidly growing songwriter with tremendous raw talent. The songs were conceived on piano and guitar by four people: The Matrix (3) and Avril. Avril was instrumental in the songs' creation. We were all very close during the making of the record.
Film career
Lavigne made her film debut in the animated film Over the Hedge, which is based on the comic strip of same name. She worked alongside William Shatner, Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Wanda Sykes, Nick Nolte and Steve Carell. She is also acting in the Richard Gere film The Flock,[57] as the girlfriend of a crime suspect, and her third project was Fast Food Nation, based on her favorite book. Lavigne wrote and recorded a song titled "Keep Holding On" with Dr. Luke, for the Eragon film soundtrack; it was included on her third album, The Best Damn Thing. The song was released for digital download on November 28, and made its worldwide debut on radio on November 17.[58] It reached the top spot on the Canadian top twenty. She also recorded the theme song for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.
Lavigne made a cameo in the film Going the Distance and also appeared in an episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, performing "Sk8er Boi" with her band.
It was reported by the British publication The London Paper that she recently landed a lead role in an upcoming film. "I've got a film role coming up - something you wouldn't expect from me, something deep and dark.
