Throughout her career,Avril Lavigne has primarily been known as a punk princess. With her lyrics and style being geared more towards the grunge side of music, many would assume her inspirations would only consist solely of bands such asGreen Day,Pearl Jam, or even the “Prince of Darkness” himself,Ozzy Osbourne. However, it is often discovered that musicians can draw inspiration from artists of any genre. Even if it differs from their own, there is much to be learned from true professionals.
Avril Lavigne took inspiration from a surprising source: a Canadian country music icon. In fact, a chance encounter with this artist is what truly changed Lavigne’s life forever. This formed a lifelong mutual admiration, and the two have shared a stage more than once.Lavigne’s story proves that inspiration is all around, and it’s okay to take things from places that resonate, because anything that can evoke feelings is strong enough to make change. Now, thanks to a perfect moment, the world has witnessed Avril Lavigne for over 20 years.
Avril Lavigne’s Life Was Changed By Shania Twain
A Genre Doesn’t Define Inspiration
Avril Lavigne grew up in Ontario, Canada. She was already performing and writing her own music at a young age, trying to begin her career as early as possible. Much like a fellow Canadian contemporaryJustin Bieberwould do, Lavigne began performing around her community.
As her teenage years started, Lavigne was performing at fairs. This would eventually lead her to the biggest stage she had been on. Afterwinning a local radio contest, she was granted the opportunity to sing with Shania Twain. At that point in 1999, Twain was one of the biggest country music stars in the world. She had already released three albums, includingCome On Over,which would go on to sell over 40 million copies. Beyond all the commercial success, there was a common bond between Lavigne and Twain: they were both Canadian.
After winning a local radio contest, she was granted the opportunity to sing with Shania Twain.
Lavigne then headed to Ottawa to perform not only with a superstar, but with someone who had walked the same path she was beginning on. Inside the Corel Centre in front of 20,000 fans, Twain and Lavigne sang “What Made You Say That,” which came from Twain’s debut studio album. After this performance, Lavigne was inspired to chase her music dream full-time, even at the expense of her schooling. Ultimately,it was the right move for her as only four years later, she was back in the arena playing her very own show.
Avril Lavigne Performed A Shania Twain Tribute In 2022
Life Comes Full Circle
In 2022, Avril Lavigne was 20 years into her professional career. During that time, she had incredible success, with multiple hit albums and sales exceeding 50 million copies worldwide. It was safe to say her career decisions paid off. However, even after all that time, special moments were still to be had,including a chance to honor her inspiration, Shania Twain, at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM).
On that night, Shania Twain was honored with the ACM Poet’s Award for her songwriting. This was an award Twain rightfully earned, as she has had multiple albums achieve platinum or diamond certification. Lavigne didn’t just present the award to Twain; she also delivered a powerful speech, calling Twain"the inspiration to work harder and keep pushing the boundaries.“She further honored Twain by performing her classic song “No One Needs to Know.” This was a fitting tribute and showcased some country inspiration in Lavigne’s voice.
The story of Avril and Shania is one that has come full circle. It shows that artists never know whom they will inspire to become the next great superstar. It’s amazing how much Avril gained from her one performance with Shania, but it demonstrates why Shania is a country queen. She’s powerful enough to have a single chance meeting change the course of someone else’s life. It remains to be seen ifAvril Lavigne will ever go country, but either way, she will always hold the genre in her heart.
