Career Timeline of Avril Lavigne: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Avril Lavigne made an impact.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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".
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: 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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
November 17, 2006: Fast Food Nation Release
On November 17, 2006, the film Fast Food Nation, featuring Avril Lavigne as Alice, opened in theaters.
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.
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".
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.
2007: Release of The Flock
In 2007, The Flock was released in foreign markets.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2010: Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance
In 2010, Avril Lavigne performed at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2022: Release of 'Love Sux'
In 2022, Avril Lavigne returned to her pop punk roots with her seventh album, Love Sux.
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