Alanis Morissette

Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress, born on June 1, 1974, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, she is often referred to as the "Queen of Alt-Rock Angst". Morissette began playing the piano at age six and was composing her own songs by age nine. At the age of 10, she was a cast member on the children's television show "You Can't Do That on Television".

Early Career in Canada

In her early teens, Morissette launched a career as a dance-pop artist in Canada. She released two albums, "Alanis" (1991) and "Now Is the Time" (1992), which saw moderate success in her home country. "Alanis" was certified platinum in Canada and earned her a Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year. However, these albums were not released internationally, and her career seemed to be waning by the time she was 17.

International Breakthrough with Jagged Little Pill

After graduating high school, Morissette moved to Los Angeles and collaborated with producer Glen Ballard. This partnership led to a dramatic shift in her musical style towards alternative rock. She signed with Madonna's Maverick Records, which released "Jagged Little Pill" in 1995. The album became a massive international success, selling over 33 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time and the best-selling debut album by a female artist globally. Propelled by hit singles like "You Oughta Know," "Ironic," and "Hand in My Pocket," the album captured the zeitgeist of the mid-90s with its raw, emotionally honest lyrics. "Jagged Little Pill" earned Morissette four Grammy Awards in 1996, including Album of the Year.

Subsequent Career

Morissette's follow-up album, "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" (1998), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and showcased a more experimental, Eastern-influenced sound. Her song "Uninvited," from the "City of Angels" soundtrack (1998), won two Grammy Awards. She continued to release albums throughout the 2000s and beyond, including "Under Rug Swept" (2002), "So-Called Chaos" (2004), "Flavors of Entanglement" (2008), "Havoc and Bright Lights" (2012), and "Such Pretty Forks in the Road" (2020). While these albums did not replicate the monumental success of "Jagged Little Pill," they allowed her to maintain a dedicated fanbase and creative control.

The Storm Before the Calm

In 2022, she released "The Storm Before the Calm," a meditation album.

Acting and Other Ventures

In addition to her music career, Morissette has an established acting career. She notably played the role of God in the 1999 film "Dogma". She has also appeared in television series such as "Sex and the City," "Nip/Tuck," and "Weeds". The enduring legacy of "Jagged Little Pill" was further cemented with a Broadway musical based on the album, which premiered in 2018 and won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Personal Life

Alanis Morissette became a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen in 2005. In 2010, she married rapper Mario "Souleye" Treadway. The couple has three children: a son named Ever Imre, a daughter named Onyx Solace, and another son named Winter Mercy.