Alanis Morissette, born June 1, 1974 in Ottawa, became a household name after her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, created with producer Glen Ballard and released on Maverick Records. Known for candid lyrics and an emotive delivery, she has released multiple albums since the 1990s, explored Eastern spiritual traditions, worked in theater and became a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen. Several factual details - including exact sales figures, award counts and some personal-life dates - should be verified for precision.

Early life and first steps

Alanis Nadine Morissette was born in Ottawa, Ontario on June 1, 1974. She began writing songs as a child and appeared on Canadian television as a young performer. Her early pop-oriented releases made her a known name in Canada before she moved into a more confessional rock style.

Breakthrough with Jagged Little Pill

In the mid-1990s Morissette teamed with producer Glen Ballard and signed to Maverick Records. Their 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill, became an international phenomenon and established her as a major voice in alternative rock. The record spent many months on the Billboard charts and won several Grammy Awards while selling in the tens of millions worldwide.

Personal challenges and spiritual search

Morissette has been open about emotional and health struggles in her late teens and early adulthood, including eating disorders and anxiety. She has spoken publicly about exploring Eastern spiritual traditions - including Buddhism and Hindu teachings - during extended travel to India in the mid-1990s. Sources differ on whether she formally converted to any single religion. 1

Theater, acting and later albums

Morissette expanded into acting and theater, appearing in stage productions such as The Vagina Monologues and the off-Broadway play The Exonerated. She released several albums after Jagged Little Pill: 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).

Relationships and citizenship

She announced an engagement to actor Ryan Reynolds in 2004; the couple later ended the engagement. Morissette became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2005 while retaining Canadian citizenship. She later married and has children. 2

Legacy highlights

Morissette is widely credited for bringing sharp personal lyrics and raw emotional delivery into mainstream rock in the 1990s. Jagged Little Pill remains a touchstone record for that era and has inspired a stage musical adaptation. 3
  1. Confirm Jagged Little Pill's current certified worldwide sales figure and the exact number of Grammy Awards (and categories) won for the album.
  2. Verify whether Morissette formally converted to Buddhism or whether she describes her spiritual path as exploratory/multifaith.
  3. Confirm details of the reported 1994 robbery in Los Angeles and any documented hospitalization or panic-attack treatment that followed.
  4. Verify timeline and public details of the engagement to Ryan Reynolds and the date they ended their engagement.
  5. Confirm the name and date of Morissette's spouse, and names and birth years of her children.
  6. Verify the premiere year and major recognitions (Tony nominations/awards) for the stage musical adaptation of Jagged Little Pill.

FAQs about Alanis Morissette

When and where was Alanis Morissette born?
She was born in Ottawa, Ontario on June 1, 1974.
What was Alanis Morissette's breakthrough album?
Her breakthrough was Jagged Little Pill (1995), recorded with producer Glen Ballard and released on Maverick Records; it became a multi-platinum international success.
Has she acted or worked in theater?
Yes. Morissette has appeared in stage productions such as The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated, and has taken on other acting projects.
Does she hold U.S. citizenship?
Yes. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2005 while retaining her Canadian citizenship.
Is she still recording music?
Yes. Her most recent full studio album is Such Pretty Forks in the Road (2020).

News about Alanis Morissette

Kneecap and Alanis Morissette are park’s 2026 headline acts - Inside Croydon [Visit Site | Read More]

Taylor Swift, Alanis Morissette Among 2026 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductees - Forbes [Visit Site | Read More]

Alanis Morissette announces huge headline London show - Classic Pop Magazine [Visit Site | Read More]

Taylor Swift and Alanis Morissette Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame - Pitchfork [Visit Site | Read More]

Alanis Morissette announces a string of huge outdoor gigs in the UK this summer - Ticketmaster UK [Visit Site | Read More]

“I didn’t even want it on the album. I remember a lot of people going, ‘Please, please, please’. So I said, ‘OK…’”: How Alanis Morissette created her biggest hit - MusicRadar [Visit Site | Read More]

Alanis Morissette to play Powderham Castle in 2026 - BBC [Visit Site | Read More]

Alanis Morissette Is Authentically Herself - ELLE Canada Magazine [Visit Site | Read More]