Photo Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

It’s been 20 years since Avril Lavigne took the pop-punk world by storm with her debut album, “Let Go,” when she was only 17 years old. Whether or not you call yourself a fan, you have to admit that’s quite impressive. With her tomboy style and angst-ridden music, Lavigne became an influence for many teenagers in the early 2000s. 

The world would not be the same without hits like “Sk8ter Boi,” “Girlfriend” and “What the Hell.” These songs defined a whole generation and continue to resonate with listeners today – Lavigne’s outfit from the “Sk8ter Boi” music video is still a popular Halloween costume. 

The past 20 years have not been the kindest to Lavigne. She went through a couple of divorces and dealt with health issues caused by Lyme disease. Plus, there is this odd conspiracy theory that she died, and a body double is currently living her life. However, she seems to have triumphed through all these hardships. 

The year 2022 seems to be the chance for her comeback. In the first half of the year, she has released two albums and even got engaged to artist Derek Smith, also known as Mod Sun. 

In February, Lavigne released “Love Sux,” and it felt like 2002 all over again. The album was filled with future classics, like “Bois Lie” and “Bite Me.” It was through writing this album that she met Mod Sun, eventually falling in love with him. Little did fans know that this was only the beginning of Lavigne’s well-deserved comeback. 

About a month after the release of “Love Sux,” Lavigne got engaged to Mod Sun. They both announced their engagement on their social media accounts a few days after the proposal. There has not been a formal announcement of the wedding date yet, but the couple will most likely tie the knot within the next year. 

Lavigne seems to be happiest since she started dating Mod Sun. The songs she has been releasing have been her best in years, and she is acting like the singer fans grew up loving. 

Lavigne embarked on a tour in the summer supporting Machine Gun Kelly. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of “Let Go,” Lavigne released a special edition that featured some unreleased songs that were previously unavailable for individual purchase. A surprising song is Lavigne’s version of “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson. It is not very well known that Lavigne was the one who wrote the song, not Kelly Clarkson. 

Now, in November, Lavigne has just released a new song “I’m a Mess” in collaboration with British singer YUNGBLUD. The song is very reminiscent of the songs on Lavigne’s second album, “Under My Skin.” This single is the lead single for the deluxe version of “Love Sux” which is set to release towards the end of the month. 

This year has been an incredible comeback year for Lavigne. How many artists can you name who have released this much music in the span of one singular year? That’s right, very few. 

Either way, it has been amazing seeing the pop-punk princess rise from the ashes. Lavigne has been hinting that her next album may release next year, so fans are keeping their fingers crossed that will happen. 

All of Lavigne’s music is available on any streaming platform; go rock out to some of her songs.