One thing to know about singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne is that she is completely herself. Hailed as the antithesis of the pop stars of her time when she burst onto the scene in 2002, she has always maintained that she makes pop music and loves writing popular songs. She’s fun and doesn’t like to follow rules, but emphatically enjoys long term, monogamous relationships and isn’t afraid to be conventional too. She never let labels tell her what she could and couldn’t wear — and, somehow, Lavigne does it all while making inch thick eyeliner cool.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Lavigne played in her basement as a kid with a microphone, a drum kit, a keyboard, and several guitars. She had multiple interests growing up, including hockey and skating, the latter of which visually played a role in her career (hint…does the name "Sk8er Boi" ring a bell?). After signing to Arista Records in 2000, Lavigne has clocked worldwide sales of 40 million albums and 50 million singles, six number-one singles worldwide, has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards, and is ranked as the third top-selling Canadian female artist in history.
With a career that has soundtracked millions of lives, Lavigne has embarked on her celebratory Greatest Hits Tour at venues all across North America, including a sold out show at the Kia Forum on May 30. Her home away from home, Lavigne mentioned at the show, “when I was 16, I moved to L.A. This feels like home to me now too.”