By Marron Joshua F. Mendoza
Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne was honored with her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony held on Wednesday, August 31.
During her speech, the Princess of Pop Punk remembered the time she visited the famous Los Angeles attraction. After presenting the attendees with a photo of her 16-year-old self lying beside actor Tom Cruise‘s Hollywood Walk of Fame star, she changed into the “skateboarding is not a crime” sweatshirt that she wore in the photo onstage.
“So I can remember seeing these legendary names and think, I never could’ve imagined that mine would be here. This is so crazy. I am so grateful. This is probably one of the coolest days of my life,” Avril said.
She then thanked her family for their support, record executive L.A. Reid for discovering her at age 15, and her collaborators present in the ceremony, including songwriter Lauren Christy, musician and fiancé Mod Sun, singer and record producer John Feldmann, and rapper Machine Gun Kelly. Avril ended her speech by leaving an inspiring message to aspiring artists everywhere.
“Today, I love making music more than ever. I feel so inspired, and I hope that the next 16-year-old from their small town who comes to Hollywood one day, full of hopes and dreams, sees this star and thinks to themself, ‘Oh my god, my name could be there one day too,’ because it can. Follow your dreams, live your passion, express yourself, be real, work hard, keep your head up, believe in yourself,” she said.
Known for her hit songs such as “Complicated,” “Girlfriend,” and “Sk8er Boi”, Avril released seven albums, with her latest, Love Sux, released last February 25. She received eight Grammy Award nominations and became a crucial figure in the growth of pop punk music in the early 2000s.
Avril will visit the Philippines for her Love Sux Tour on Thursday, November 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.