…Avril, too!

With more than 40 million albums sold and eight Grammy nominations, Avril Lavigne (photo) released her first new music in five years. Preceded by a heartfelt letter to her fans on social media last week, Head Above Water details the personal side of Avril’s journey through her widely-reported on battle with Lyme Disease. The singer co-wrote the song, which hinges on stark piano chords and her powerhouse vocals, to share the most intimate look at her experience and how she has emerged stronger than ever. Released by BMG, the song is available to stream and download.

“One night, I thought I was dying, and I had accepted that I was going to die. My mom laid with me in bed and held me. I felt like I was drowning. Under my breath, I prayed ‘God, please help to keep my head above the water.’ In that moment, the song writing of this album began. It was like I tapped into something. It was a very spiritual experience. Lyrics flooded through me from that point on,” said Avril.

Coinciding with the music release, Avril is continuing to bring the strong messaging of Head Above Water through The Avril Lavigne Foundation. The foundation has launched a charitable T-shirt campaign that will raise funds to directly impact individuals affected by Lyme that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford treatment. Feeling the need to bring awareness to the severity of Lyme Disease, Avril and her Foundation have made the EXCLUSIVE #HeadAboveWater charitable T-shirt available by visiting http://www.TheAvrilLavigneFoundation.org.

The Avril Lavigne Foundation supports people with Lyme Disease, serious illness or disabilities. Through programs and grants, it provides funding, education and encouragement for its beneficiaries.