History of Avril Lavigne in Timeline

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Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne is a Canadian singer and songwriter notable for her influence on pop-punk music. She pioneered female-driven, punk-influenced pop in the early 2000s. Lavigne's success is underscored by eight Grammy Award nominations, cementing her position as a significant figure in contemporary music.

6 hours ago : Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan reunite for 'Young & Dumb,' recalling 2003 meeting.

Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan collaborated on 'Young & Dumb,' with Lavigne reminiscing about their first meeting in 2003. The song captures the pop-punk spirit, though its Canadian status is debated. They feel like those same kids.

1953: Marriage of Maurice Yves Lavigne and Lucie Dzierzbicki

In 1953, Avril Lavigne's paternal grandfather, Maurice Yves Lavigne, a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, married Lucie Dzierzbicki, a French native of Morhange.

1954: Birth of Jean-Claude Lavigne

In 1954, Avril Lavigne's father, Jean-Claude Lavigne, was born at RCAF Station Grostenquin near Grostenquin, Lorraine. He was the son of Maurice Yves Lavigne and Lucie Dzierzbicki.

1975: Marriage of Jean-Claude Lavigne and Judith-Rosanne Loshaw

In 1975, Jean-Claude Lavigne, Avril Lavigne's father, married Judith-Rosanne "Judy" Loshaw.

September 27, 1984: Avril Lavigne's Birth

On September 27, 1984, Avril Ramona Lavigne was born in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Her father named her Avril, which is the French word for April.

December 1999: Discovery by Cliff Fabri

In December 1999, Avril Lavigne was discovered by her first professional manager, Cliff Fabri, while singing country covers at a Chapters bookstore in Kingston.

1999: Performance with Shania Twain and Collaboration with Stephen Medd

In 1999, Avril Lavigne won a radio contest to perform with Shania Twain at the Corel Centre in Ottawa, singing "What Made You Say That". Also in 1999, Lavigne contributed vocals to Stephen Medd's song, "Touch the Sky", for his album, Quinte Spirit.

November 2000: Signing with Arista Records

In November 2000, Avril Lavigne auditioned for Antonio "L.A." Reid and was signed to Arista Records with a deal worth $1.25 million for two albums and an extra $900,000 for a publishing advance. She subsequently left high school to focus on her music career.

2000: Collaboration with Peter Zizzo and Attention from Arista Records

During the summer of 2000, Avril Lavigne collaborated with producer Peter Zizzo in New York, writing the song "Why". Around this time, Lavigne was noticed by Arista Records.

2000: Collaboration with Stephen Medd on 'My Window to You'

In 2000, Avril Lavigne contributed vocals to Stephen Medd's album, 'My Window to You' on the tracks "Temple of Life" and "Two Rivers".

May 2001: Collaboration with the Matrix Production Team

In May 2001, Avril Lavigne collaborated with the Matrix production team in Los Angeles, creating two songs including "Complicated", which was later released as her debut single. This collaboration marked a major breakthrough in forging an individual sound for her.

January 2002: Completion of 'Let Go' Album Recording

In January 2002, the recording of Avril Lavigne's debut album, Let Go, was completed.

June 2002: Release of 'Let Go' in the US

In June 2002, Avril Lavigne released her debut album 'Let Go' in the US, where it reached number two on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It reached number one in Australia, Canada, and the UK, making Lavigne the youngest female soloist to have a number-one album on the UK Albums Chart at that time.

November 2002: Stopped wearing ties

In November 2002, Avril Lavigne stopped wearing ties, stating she felt like she was "wearing a costume".

2002: Signing with Arista Records and Release of 'Let Go'

At age 16, Avril Lavigne signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records in 2002. Her debut album, Let Go, released in 2002, became the best-selling album of the 21st century by a Canadian artist, featuring singles like "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi".

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2002: Cameo in Treble Charger's Music Video

In 2002, Avril Lavigne made a cameo appearance in the music video for "Hundred Million" by the pop punk band Treble Charger.

2002: Television Appearance on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

In 2002, Avril Lavigne made her first television appearance on an episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, performing "Sk8er Boi" with her band in a nightclub.

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2002: Success of 'Complicated' and Other Singles

In 2002, Avril Lavigne's debut single, "Complicated", peaked at number one in Australia and number two in the US, becoming one of the bestselling Canadian singles of 2002. Subsequent singles "Sk8er Boi" and "I'm with You" reached the top ten in the US. Lavigne was named Best New Artist at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards for "Complicated".

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January 11, 2003: Guinness World Record

On January 11, 2003, Avril Lavigne achieved a Guinness World Record as the youngest female solo artist to top the UK album chart at 18 years and 106 days with her album "Let Go".

March 2003: Rolling Stone Cover and Metallica Tribute Performance

In March 2003, Avril Lavigne posed for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. In March 2003, she also performed "Fuel" during MTV's Icon tribute to Metallica.

April 2003: Juno Award and Comments on Iraq War

In April 2003, after winning a Juno Award, Avril Lavigne expressed her disapproval of the Iraq War and stated that she did not respect U.S. President George Bush, while also praising Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien for keeping Canada out of the war.

May 2003: 'Let Go' Receives Diamond Certification in Canada

By May 2003, Avril Lavigne's album 'Let Go' had accumulated over 1 million sales in Canada, receiving a diamond certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association.

2003: Featured in The Sims: Superstar

In 2003, Avril Lavigne was featured as a non-playable celebrity in the game The Sims: Superstar.

2003: SOCAN International Achievement Award

In 2003, Avril Lavigne won an International Achievement Award for her song "Complicated" at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto.

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2003: Juno Awards and World Music Award

In 2003, Avril Lavigne won four Juno Awards out of six nominations. She also received a World Music Award for "World's Bestselling Canadian Singer".

2003: Suicide conspiracy theory

In 2003, a conspiracy theory emerged claiming Avril Lavigne had committed suicide and been replaced by a body double. This rumour originated from a joke on a Brazilian blog.

May 2004: Release of 'Under My Skin'

In May 2004, Avril Lavigne's second studio album, Under My Skin, was released and debuted at number one in Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK, and the US.

September 2004: Start of the Bonez Tour

In September 2004, Avril Lavigne embarked on her first world tour, the year-long Bonez Tour.

September 2004: Performance at Fashion Rocks

In September 2004, Avril Lavigne performed the Goo Goo Dolls song "Iris" with the band's lead singer John Rzeznik at Fashion Rocks.

October 2004: Cover of Maxim Magazine

In October 2004, Avril Lavigne posed for the cover of Maxim magazine.

November 2004: Theme Song for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

In November 2004, Avril Lavigne recorded the theme song for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie with producer Butch Walker.

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2004: Cameo in Going the Distance

In 2004, Avril Lavigne made a cameo appearance in the film Going the Distance after performing "Losing Grip" at the MuchMusic Video Awards.

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2004: Release of 'Under My Skin'

In 2004, Avril Lavigne released her second album, Under My Skin, which reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, selling 10 million copies worldwide.

2004: Record Lost

In 2004, Joss Stone's album "Mind Body & Soul" surpassed Avril Lavigne's "Let Go" on the UK charts.

2004: Heart Tattoo with "D"

In late 2004, Avril Lavigne had a small pink heart tattoo with the letter "D" applied to her right wrist, representing her then-boyfriend, Deryck Whibley.

June 2005: Deryck Whibley's Proposal

In June 2005, Deryck Whibley proposed to Avril Lavigne after they had been dating for a while, having been friends since she was 17 years old.

November 2005: Filming The Flock

In November 2005, Avril Lavigne filmed a scene in the movie The Flock in New Mexico, playing Beatrice Bell alongside Claire Danes and Richard Gere.

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December 2005: Signing for Fast Food Nation

In December 2005, Avril Lavigne signed to appear in Fast Food Nation, based on the book of the same name.

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2005: Juno and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards

In 2005, Avril Lavigne won three Juno Awards from five nominations, including 'Artist of the Year'. She also won 'Favorite Female Singer' at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

2005: Reverb Collaboration

In 2005, Avril Lavigne worked with Reverb, a non-profit environmental organization, for her east coast tour.

February 2006: Performance at the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony

In February 2006, Avril Lavigne represented Canada at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

May 19, 2006: Over the Hedge Release

On May 19, 2006, the film Over the Hedge, in which Avril Lavigne voiced the character Heather, opened in theaters, making $38 million over its opening weekend.

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July 15, 2006: Marriage to Deryck Whibley

On July 15, 2006, Avril Lavigne married Deryck Whibley in Montecito, California.

August 2006: Ranked in Canadian Business Magazine

In August 2006, Canadian Business magazine ranked Avril Lavigne as the seventh top Canadian actor in Hollywood in their second annual Celebrity Power List ranking.

November 17, 2006: Fast Food Nation Release

On November 17, 2006, the film Fast Food Nation, featuring Avril Lavigne as Alice, opened in theaters.

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2006: Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance

In 2006, Avril Lavigne performed at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Torino.

April 2007: Release of 'The Best Damn Thing'

In April 2007, Avril Lavigne's third album, 'The Best Damn Thing', was released and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, achieving Platinum status in Canada. The lead single, "Girlfriend", became her first number-one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

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April 2007: Release of Avril Lavigne's Make 5 Wishes Volume 1

In April 2007, the first volume of the graphic novel "Avril Lavigne's Make 5 Wishes" was released. Avril Lavigne collaborated with Camilla d'Errico and Joshua Dysart on the manga, about a shy girl who learns to overcome her fears after meeting Avril Lavigne.

June 12, 2007: Release of Instant Karma

On June 12, 2007, Avril Lavigne's cover of John Lennon's song "Imagine" was released on the compilation album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.

July 2007: Release of Avril Lavigne's Make 5 Wishes Volume 2

In July 2007, the second volume of the graphic novel "Avril Lavigne's Make 5 Wishes" was released. Avril Lavigne collaborated with Camilla d'Errico and Joshua Dysart on the manga, about a shy girl who learns to overcome her fears after meeting Avril Lavigne.

November 28, 2007: Unite Against AIDS Concert

On November 28, 2007, Avril Lavigne took part in the Unite Against AIDS concert presented by ALDO in support of UNICEF at the Bell Centre in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

December 2007: Ranked in Forbes' 'Top 20 Earners Under 25'

In December 2007, Avril Lavigne was ranked number eight in Forbes magazine's list of 'Top 20 Earners Under 25', with annual earnings of $12 million.

2007: First to reach 100 million views on YouTube

In 2007, Avril Lavigne was the first artist to reach 100 million views on a YouTube video, with her single "Girlfriend".

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2007: Success of 'The Best Damn Thing'

In 2007, Avril Lavigne's third album, The Best Damn Thing, reached number one in seven countries worldwide and featured the successful single "Girlfriend", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

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2007: Release of The Flock

In 2007, The Flock was released in foreign markets.

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2007: "Dolphins" Meme

Since 2007, a persistent internet meme about a song called "Dolphins" (written by Lavigne) appeared on various lyric sites, although she neither wrote nor recorded the song. Multiple bands recorded cover versions of the song.

March 2008: The Best Damn World Tour and Maxim Cover Appearance

In March 2008, Avril Lavigne undertook a world tour, The Best Damn World Tour, and appeared on the cover of Maxim for the second time.

July 2008: Launch of Abbey Dawn Clothing Line

In July 2008, Avril Lavigne launched her clothing line Abbey Dawn, featuring a back-to-school collection produced by Kohl's.

August 21, 2008: Approval of Kuala Lumpur Concert

On August 21, 2008, MTV reported that Avril Lavigne's concert in Kuala Lumpur had been approved by the Malaysian government, despite earlier attempts by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party to ban the show.

2008: The Best Damn Tour in China

In 2008, Avril Lavigne was the first western artist to do a full tour in China with The Best Damn Tour.

March 7, 2009: Announcement of Black Star Fragrance

On March 7, 2009, Avril Lavigne announced the release of her first fragrance, Black Star, created by Procter & Gamble Prestige Products, on her official website.

September 14, 2009: New York Fashion Week Appearance

On September 14, 2009, Avril Lavigne showcased the then latest collection of her clothing line, Abbey Dawn, at New York Fashion Week.

October 9, 2009: Filed for Divorce from Deryck Whibley

On October 9, 2009, Avril Lavigne filed for divorce from Deryck Whibley, citing "irreconcilable differences".

December 5, 2009: Teleton Performance in Mexico City

On December 5, 2009, Avril Lavigne performed acoustic versions of "Complicated" and "Girlfriend" at the "Teleton" charity event in Mexico City, accompanied by Evan Taubenfeld and Jim McGorman.

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2009: 'Let Go' Sales Reach 16 Million Units Worldwide

By 2009, Avril Lavigne's debut album 'Let Go' had sold over 16 million units worldwide.

2009: Billboard's Top Pop Artist

In 2009, Billboard named Avril Lavigne the number 10 pop artist in the "Best of the 2000s" chart and ranked her as the 28th overall best act of the decade in the US based on album and single chart performance.

January 2010: Collaboration with Disney

In January 2010, Avril Lavigne started working with Disney to incorporate Alice in Wonderland-inspired designs into her Abbey Dawn clothing line.

February 2010: Started Dating Brody Jenner

In February 2010, Avril Lavigne began dating Brody Jenner, who starred in The Hills.

March 2010: Matching Tattoos with Deryck Whibley

In March 2010, Avril Lavigne and her then-husband, Deryck Whibley, got matching tattoos in celebration of his 30th birthday.

April 2010: Lightning Bolt Tattoo

In April 2010, Avril Lavigne added another tattoo on her wrist, which was a lightning bolt and the number 30.

May 2010: "Fuck" Tattoos with Brody Jenner

In May 2010, Avril Lavigne and Brody Jenner each got matching tattoos of the word "fuck" on their ribs, gaining media attention.

July 2010: "Brody" Tattoo

In July 2010, Avril Lavigne had her then-boyfriend's name, "Brody", tattooed beneath her right breast.

July 2010: Release of Forbidden Rose Fragrance

In July 2010, Avril Lavigne released her second fragrance, Forbidden Rose, which had been in development for two years.

September 14, 2010: Launch of The Avril Lavigne Foundation

On September 14, 2010, Avril Lavigne introduced "The Avril Lavigne Foundation", a charity aimed at helping young people with serious illnesses and disabilities, partnering with organizations like Easter Seals and Make-A-Wish.

November 2010: Attendance at Clinton Global Initiative

In November 2010, Avril Lavigne attended the Clinton Global Initiative.

November 16, 2010: Divorce from Deryck Whibley Finalized

On November 16, 2010, Avril Lavigne's divorce from Deryck Whibley was finalized.

December 2010: Abbey Dawn Available Worldwide

In December 2010, Avril Lavigne's clothing line Abbey Dawn became available in over 50 countries through its official website.

2010: Charity Single Contribution

In 2010, Avril Lavigne contributed her voice to a cover of K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" as part of a benefit single to raise money for charity organizations related to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

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2010: Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance

In 2010, Avril Lavigne performed at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

February 2011: Received French Passport

In February 2011, Avril Lavigne received a French passport through jus sanguinis, due to her father's French origin.

May 2011: Put Bel-Air House on the Market

In May 2011, Avril Lavigne put her house in Bel-Air on the market.

August 2011: Release of Wild Rose Fragrance

In August 2011, Avril Lavigne launched her third fragrance, Wild Rose, and filmed a commercial for it in late 2010.

September 2011: Guest Mentor on Majors & Minors

In September 2011, Avril Lavigne appeared on the Hub Network's televised singing competition Majors & Minors as a guest mentor alongside other singers, including Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis.

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2011: Release of 'Goodbye Lullaby'

In 2011, Avril Lavigne released her fourth album, Goodbye Lullaby, which saw continued commercial success and was certified gold in Canada, the United States, and other territories.

2011: New York Fashion Week Return

In 2011, Avril Lavigne returned to New York Fashion Week to showcase her clothing line, Abbey Dawn.

January 2012: Split from Brody Jenner

In January 2012, Avril Lavigne and Brody Jenner ended their relationship after almost two years of dating.

January 2012: Moved to Paris to Study French

In January 2012, Avril Lavigne sold her house in Bel-Air and moved to Paris to study the French language, attending a Berlitz school.

March 2012: Collaboration with Chad Kroeger

In March 2012, Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger began working together to write and record music for Lavigne's fifth album, leading to a romantic relationship.

July 2012: Began Dating Chad Kroeger

In July 2012, Avril Lavigne began dating Chad Kroeger, the frontman of Nickelback, after they started working together on her fifth album.

August 2012: Engagement to Chad Kroeger

In August 2012, Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger got engaged after dating for one month.

July 1, 2013: Marriage to Chad Kroeger

On July 1, 2013, Avril Lavigne married Chad Kroeger at the Château de la Napoule in the South of France.

2013: Release of 'Avril Lavigne'

In 2013, Avril Lavigne released her fifth album, Avril Lavigne, which achieved commercial success and was certified gold in Canada, the United States, and other territories.

September 2014: Fundraising Campaign for Special Olympics

In September 2014, Avril Lavigne launched a personal fundraising campaign for the Special Olympics as part of her birthday celebration, proceeds from her "Team Rockstar" event helped sponsor athletes from around the world.

2014: Diagnosis with Lyme Disease

In 2014, after her 30th birthday, Avril Lavigne was diagnosed with Lyme disease.

April 2015: Revealed Lyme Disease Diagnosis

In April 2015, Avril Lavigne revealed to People magazine that she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease and wanted to increase awareness of the disease.

September 2, 2015: Separation from Chad Kroeger

On September 2, 2015, Avril Lavigne announced her separation from Chad Kroeger via her official Instagram account, and they later divorced.

2015: Special Olympics Opening Ceremony Performance

In 2015, Avril Lavigne performed at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games.

2015: Special Olympics World Summer Games

In 2015, athletes sponsored by Avril Lavigne's "Team Rockstar" event competed in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles and were featured in the music video for "Fly".

March 2018: 'Let Go' Certified Seven-Times Platinum by RIAA

By March 2018, the RIAA certified Avril Lavigne's album 'Let Go' seven-times Platinum, denoting shipments of over seven million units in the US.

November 2018: Response to the conspiracy theory

In November 2018, Avril Lavigne responded to the conspiracy theory about her being replaced, stating in an interview with Australia's KIIS 106.5 that it was weird for people to think she wasn't the real her.

2018: Dating Phillip Sarofim

In 2018, Avril Lavigne began dating billionaire heir Phillip Sarofim.

2018: Heart Tattoo with JaKeb Allen Munn

In 2018, Avril Lavigne got a traditional heart shaped tattoo with then boyfriend JaKeb Allen Munn.

2019: Broke Up with Phillip Sarofim

In 2019, Avril Lavigne broke up with Phillip Sarofim.

2019: Release of 'Head Above Water'

In 2019, Avril Lavigne released her sixth album, Head Above Water.

September 2020: Announcement of #FightLyme Concert

In September 2020, Avril Lavigne announced a special livestream concert called the #FightLyme concert to raise awareness and funds in the fight against Lyme disease.

2020: Reported Dating Pete Jonas

In 2020, it was reported that Avril Lavigne began dating musician Pete Jonas.

March 2021: Began Dating Mod Sun

Around March 2021, Avril Lavigne began dating Mod Sun.

April 2022: Engagement to Mod Sun Announced

In April 2022, Avril Lavigne announced her engagement to Mod Sun via her social media accounts.

2022: Release of 'Love Sux'

In 2022, Avril Lavigne returned to her pop punk roots with her seventh album, Love Sux.

February 2023: Ended Engagement with Mod Sun

In February 2023, Avril Lavigne and Mod Sun ended their engagement.

June 2024: Order of Canada

In June 2024, Avril Lavigne was conferred with the Order of Canada.