Avril Lavigne to release new album in 2017

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Avril Lavigne will release her sixth studio album in 2017.

The 32-year-old Canadian singer announced plans for the record, her first since her Lyme disease diagnosis in 2014, in an Instagram post Sunday.

"Hi Everyone!! I wanted to first thank my fans for your patience & support during my time away throughout my battle with Lyme Disease over the past 2 years. It hasn't just been a hard battle but it's also been enlightening and will reflect in my new music, artistry, life and personally," Lavigne wrote.

"I will always continue to make it a priority to fight and raise awareness about Lyme Disease with the Avril Lavigne foundation," she added.

"I'm really happy to announce that I am now working on new music and I will be releasing a new album in 2017. I can't wait to open up and share my heart with you! I'm excited for you guys to hear the new songs. It's going to be an amazing 2017!" the star concluded.

Lavigne last released the album Avril Lavigne in 2013, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. She had revealed in April 2015 that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease after struggling with health issues for months.

"I felt like I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk and I couldn't move," the singer told People at the time. "I thought I was dying."

"There were definitely times I couldn't shower for a full week because I could barely stand," she added. "It felt like having all your life sucked out of you."

Lavigne is known for such songs as "Complicated," "Sk8er Boi" and "Girlfriend." She made headlines last week for defending estranged husband Chad Kroeger's band, Nickelback, after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg poked fun at the group.