Alanis Morissette

Her single You Oughta Know

Background:"Music will always be a part of my life. I love music and I don't care how many units I sell. I don't need to compromise anymore." Alanis MorissetteOne of the most popular female rock singers, Alanis Moressette initially captured the attention of the Canadian music listener with her debut album Alanis (1990). The album, with its lead "Too Hot," handed her the 1991 Juno Award. Morissette acquired worldwide fame with the release of her first international album titled Jagged Little Pill in 1995. Collaborating with producer and songwriter Glen Ballard, the album spawned five hit singles: "You Oughta Know," "Hand In My Pocket," "Ironic," "You Learn" and "Head Over Feet." She was quickly launched to stardom after netting four Grammy Awards.In 1998, Morissette scored another big success with the chart-topping "Uninvited," a song from the soundtrack for the motion picture City of Angels. She earned two Grammy Awards in 1998, as well as the ASCAP award in 1999. Alanis also won the 2002 Juno award for her work in Under Rug Swept (2002).Morissette was once voted the 53rd of 100 VH1's Greatest Women of Rock N Roll. On February 11, 2005, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States while still holding her Canadian citizenship.She refers to herself as a Canadian-American. As for her romantic life, Morissette was romantically involved with actor Dave Coulier (dated in 1992) and actor Dash Mihok (dated in 1999). She is currently dating fiancé Ryan Reynolds (actor).Recently, the multi-Grammy winning star released an acoustic version of 1995's Jagged Little Pill titled Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (2005) and the Greatest Hits (2005). She was also seen acting in such television shows as Degrassi: The Next Generation (2005, opposite Jason Mewes) and "We're with the Band" (2005). Morissette is scheduled to play a role in the upcoming Just Friends (2006).Can't Do ThatChildhood and Family:In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Alanis Nadine Morissette was born on June 1, 1974, to Hungarian and French-Canadian parents. Her father is Alan, a military trainer, and her mother is Georgia, a teacher. She has an older brother, Chad, and a twin brother named Wade.Young Alanis displayed her love for music by playing piano by age six. As a child, she also discovered a knack for singing and began writing her own songs when she was nine. Ten-year-old Alanis was brought to the public eye as a kid star when she joined the cast of Canadian children's television series "You Can't Do That on Television" in 1986. She then released an independent single, "Fate Stay With Me," with the b-side "Find The Right Man," using money she earned on the show. Alanis also showcase her singing talent in Ottawa's Tulip Festival, sporting events in her hometown, and appeared on the talent show Star Search. By the time she was fourteen, Alanis was launched as a real pop diva.Being raised in Ottawa, Alanis attended Notre Dame High School and continued her education at Ottawa's Glebe Collegiate Institute. As for her private life, Alanis has dated Van Wilder star, Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds (born October 23, 1976) since 2002, and they became engaged in June 2004. The couple share houses in Vancouver and Los Angeles.Jagged Little PillCareer:Hailing as a child actress in the Canadian television show You Can't Do That on Television (1986), Alanis Morissette became a dance-pop diva after signing a record deal with MCA/Canada in 1990. Shortly thereafter, Morissette released her debut album Alanis, in 1991, a compilation of pop-oriented dance numbers and ballads, with producer Leslie Howe. Alanis became a hit in the Canadian music industry and received double platinum certification. The album's lead single "Too Hot," entered the Top Ten on the Canadian charts and the subsequent singles "Feel Your Love," "Walkaway" and "Plastic" also tore up the charts. Following the success of her album, Morissette netted a Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist, as well as nominations at the Juno awards for Single of the Year and Best Dance Record.In 1992, her second and the last studio album with MCA Record, Now Is the Time, hit the Canadian music shelves. Unlike its predecessor, the album was not a hit in her hometown. Dissatisfied with her career, Alanis relocated to Toronto and worked with a number of songwriters in hopes of pumping some life into her diminishing career. However, she was upset with the result of the work and flew to Los Angeles where she met producer and songwriter Glen Ballard.Working with Ballard, Morissette launched her first international album titled Jagged Little Pill in 1995, shortly after signing a contract with Madonna's Maverick Records. It premiered at No. 118 on the Billboard 200 chart. However, when the first single "You Oughta Know" went into heavy rotation on the radio and MTV, Morissette received attention from music listeners. Followed by four more hit tracks including "Hand In My Pocket," "Ironic," "You Learn" and "Head Over Feet," Jagged Little Pill was named the best-selling US debut by a female solo artist, and sold 30 million copies worldwide.In 1996, Morrissette took home Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Album, and Best Music Video (Long Form) in 1998.Morissette again attracted public attention for her work in the soundtrack for the film City of Angels with her song titled "Uninvited" (1998). Though the song was only used as a promo-single, it received widespread radio airplay. "Uninvited" quickly topped the US Top 40 Mainstream for two consecutive weeks. At the end of decade, Morissette won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Song and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and the ASCAP Award for Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures.Returning to the studio album after taking a break, Morissette released the acclaimed album Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998), the follow up to Jagged Little Pill. It produced such hit tracks as "Thank U," "Joining You," "Unsent" and " So Pure," which ripped apart the charts in America, Australia, Europe and Asia. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart, breaking the record for the most albums sold in a single week by a female artist. Howeverm, the album did not received as much success as Jagged Little Pill. Additionally, her first single "Thank U" failed to win the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In 1999, Alanis launched the live acoustic album MTV Unplugged. The album was later certified Gold.Morissette was seen acting in 1999 when she appeared as God in director Kevin Smith's Dogma (1999), and landed a guest spot on the popular show Sex and the City, in which she shared an on-screen kiss with Sarah Jessica Parker. She also received her first stage role performing in The Vagina Monologues. In the motion picture Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Morissette was featured as That Woman (God).Under Rug Swept (2002) was Morissette's contribution to the music industry after a four-year absence. In the album, the singer took on the role of single writer and producer for the first time, spawning two hit tracks, "Hands Clean" and "Precious Illusions." Morissette won the Juno Award for Producer of the Year in 2002 for her work on the album.Morissette released her next international studio album, So-Called Chaos, in 2004. Within the first week of release, the album sold over 115,000 copies and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. The first tract, "Everything," and two other singles, "Out is Through" and "Eight Easy Steps," brought the album Gold certification. Jagged Little Pill Acoustic, an acoustic version of her first international album Jagged Little Pill, hit the music stores in 2005, and subsequently launched the Greatest Hits (2005).As for acting, Morissette rejoined director Kevin Smith in the Canadian television series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2005), making a guest appearance opposite Jason Mewes. She also appeared in the television show "We're with the Band" (2005), and soon will play a role in the upcoming film Just Friends (2006).Awards: Juno (Canadian Grammy): Producer of the Year, 2002 Juno (Canadian Grammy): Best Album, 2000 Juno (Canadian Grammy): Best Video, 2000 ASCAP: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures, City of Angels, 1999 Grammy: Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, Uninvited, 1998 Grammy: Best Rock Song, Uninvited, 1998 Grammy: Best Music Video (Long Form), Jagged Little Pill, Live, 1998 Grammy: Album of the Year, Jagged Little Pill, 1996 Grammy: Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, "You Oughta Know," 1996 Grammy: Best Rock Album, 1996 Billboard Music Video: Pop / Rock Clip of the Year, 1996 Juno (Canadian Grammy): Songwriter of the Year, 1996 Billboard Music Video: Pop / Rock New Artist Clip, 1996 Juno (Canadian Grammy): Most Promising New Female Vocalist, 1991