Avril Lavigne made her first red carpet appearance in two years, and fans can't get over how she looks
"Why do you have to go and make things so complicated?" "He was a skater boy, she said, 'see you later, boy!'"
We all remember Avril Lavigne's smash hit singles from 2002, "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi." (And they're probably stuck in your head right now. Sorry about that.) The Canadian songstress burst onto the music scene when she was only seventeen-years-old, fashioning herself as a pop-punk rocker. Her debut album, Let Go, sold seven million copies in the United States, and twenty million copies worldwide. That's pretty impressive, eh?
Sixteen years later - or, as Avril would say, l8er - you may be wondering, "Whatever happened to Avril Lavigne?" A lot! She released four more albums, dropping the goth-punk look. (Sorry, Hot Topic.) She took a break from music to explore an acting career, landing the seminal role of a Virginia opossum in the animated movie Over The Hedge. (Snubbed by the Oscars, I tell ya.) She married the singer from Sum 41, then got divorced four years later. (Such is love). And she designed a clothing line as well as various perfumes. (Sk8er girls are known for their beautiful smell.)
However, in 2015, life got complicated, for real. Avril was diagnosed with a severe case of Lyme disease, a potentially fatal illness spread through the bite of infected ticks. The symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and a characteristic rash. "I felt like I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk and I couldn't move. I thought I was dying," Avril told E! at the time. "There were definitely times I couldn't shower for a full week because I could barely stand. It felt like having all your life sucked out of you." Sounds terrible, doesn't it? Due to this illness, the singer-turned-actor-turned-fashionista was forced to take a break from life in the public eye.
Thankfully, Avril has made a full recovery. Last weekend she attended the 25th annual Race To Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, making her first red carpet appearance in two years. She stunned everyone with her flawless look, rocking an elegant black evening gown and statement necklace. (Quite a change from the Dickies and neckties!) Suffering from Lyme disease was a harrowing experience but she says she's feeling much better, with a newfound love for life:
"I haven't even been able to come to one of these events for a few years. I've been tucked away and hibernating and healing, and it's very up and down. Everything is brighter when you go through an experience like that. I've always been a really grounded and grateful person, but it changes a lot. The simple things in life are what mean the most, really. I'm happy to be here, happy to be supporting."
But that's not all - Avril also revealed she's returning to music. Her untitled sixth studio album - her first since 2013 - is scheduled to be released this year. So, if you ever hear "Complicated" or "Sk8er Boi" on Spotify, and wonder what Avril Lavigne is up to these days, now you know: Looking amazing, and making new music. 'Cause life's like this. Uh-huh. That's the way it is.