While many have left their hearts in San Francisco, Avril Lavigne will leave her clothes in Cleveland.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum intends to display the outfit the spunky 17-year-old singer/guitarist wore in her MTV Video Music Awards-nominated “Complicated” clip, according to a Hall spokesperson. While flattered at the honor, Lavigne is just as surprised as anyone that her baggy cargo shorts, fitted white tank top and signature necktie will hang in the same building that houses such illustrious memorabilia as John Lennon’s 1965 Rickenbacker 12-string and Hank Williams’ white wool cowboy hat.
“I think that’s ridiculous, because I’ve had one single out and I’m like this new kid in this music scene,” she stammered with disbelief. “OK, I think it’s funny, but at the same time, I’m like, ‘Hell yeah, I’ll give you my clothes!’ ”
Actually, Lavigne can rest assured that her outfit won’t hang next to those items as a permanent exhibit. Rather, it will be shown in a section called On the Charts, along with items from more contemporary artists like Destiny’s Child, Sum 41 and No Doubt.
This latest accolade is just the tip of the iceberg for Lavigne, whose debut album Let Go has sold over a million copies, according to SoundScan, since its release in early June. Peppering her career’s steep upward trajectory have been sold-out concerts, a European promotional tour, cover stories and features in national magazines, and the latest feathers in her cap, an invitation to the 2002 Video Music Awards, where’s she’s set to present an award as well as vie for a Moonman in the Best New Artist in a Video category.
While it may seem it’s all been a breeze for Lavigne, a whirlwind career can take its toll on anyone, especially someone bursting with as much energy as she.
“Lots of late nights,” she lamented. “Flights get in late, and by the time you check into your hotel room, unpack your toothbrush, brush your teeth, go to bed… and then you have to get up early in the morning – which is what it’s been like for me lately – my body’s just not used to it and it’s getting worn down. So my throat is getting kind of hoarse and raspy. I have a couple of red patches in there now, so I’m on some antibiotics to fix that up. I just have to try to stop talking and screaming and jumping around when I don’t really need to.”
Despite the irritations, Lavigne can tolerate the sore throats and tired eyes when she gets a chance to meet her fans, whose admiration makes it all worthwhile.
“It’s the coolest thing when chick fans come up to me and tell me that I’ve been so inspiring to them,” she said, beaming. “When fans come up to me and say that kind of stuff, it just puts a smile on my face that’s very irreplaceable.”
It’s safe to say a similar grin will be pasted across her face come August 29 – just the fact that she’s going is an honor, she said. And if she winds up besting Ashanti (“Foolish”), John Mayer (“No Such Thing”), B2K (“Uh Huh”) and Puddle of Mudd (“Blurry”) for that precious statuette, her exuberance may not be containable. Though to the selectively well-mannered Lavigne, who must’ve been raised right in the small Canadian town of Napanee, Ontario, winning isn’t everything.
“When [my manager] told me, I was like, ‘Omigod, I’ve been nominated!’ Now for the rest of my life, I can say that I’ve been nominated for a VMA. This might be the only time this ever happens, so I’m just going to have fun with it. The winning part is not something that I’m expecting… I’m just totally happy and a goal of mine has just been achieved.”
“Saturday Night Live” comedian Jimmy Fallon will host the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, which will be broadcast live from New York’s Radio City Music Hall at 8 p.m. ET/PT on August 29.