Avril Lavigne.

Avril Lavigne was born in Napanee, Ontario, on September 27, 1984. By age 10, she was singing country music in competitions. Three years later, Avril began making her impact outside of Napanee, as her vocal skill won her a trip to Ottawa, to perform a duet with country music star Shania Twain. By the time Avril reached high school, she began sending videotapes of her stage performances to labels and management companies throughout North America. Her talent eventually caught the eyes (or ears) of Nettwerk Management, an organization that fostered other such Canadian acts as Sarah McLachlan, Sum 41 and Barenaked Ladies. Lucky for Avril, an Arista Records rep visited her at her studio and later returned with Arista CEO Antonio "LA" Reid and immediately signed the then 16-year-old to a contract.

Avril's first single, "Complicated," was released in the early spring of 2002, and began scaling the charts across the continent. The popularity of "Complicated" paved the way for the success of Avril's first full-length CD, Let Go, which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard charts in June 2002. Avril boasts a staggering fan base, and the media interest surrounding this young singer seems far from receding. And although Avril just recently released her second album, Under My Skin, she took time out of her busy schedule to sit down and talk with us.

After her first single, "Complicated," hit the airwaves, it was only a matter of time before teenage girls worldwide would start wearing neckties and wristbands. And after the release of her first album, Let Go, it seems the world couldn't get enough of this Canadian-born singer. Now, with the release of her second musical effort, Under My Skin, there's no doubt that Avril has proven that she's on the path to musical longevity.