Avril Lavigne announces new album will debut in 2017

Avril Lavigne fans holding on for more music from the singer will find their patience rewarded in 2017.

Lavigne revealed Monday that she plans to release a new album in 2017, her first since being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2014.

“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,” Lavigne wrote in a note on Instagram this week. “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. I will always continue to make it a priority to fight and raise awareness about Lyme Disease with the Avril Lavigne foundation.”

The singer added that she was working on new music with eyes on releasing the material next year.

“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!” she wrote.

In April 2015, Lavigne opened up about her Lyme disease diagnosis during an interview with PEOPLE, noting it left her “bedridden for five months.”

“I could barely eat, and when we went to the pool, I had to leave and go lie in bed,” she said at the time, referencing her 30th birthday. “My friends asked, ‘What’s wrong?’ I didn’t know.”

Lavigne added, “I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t talk and I couldn’t move. I thought I was dying.”

Her last album, Avril Lavigne, was released in 2013.