Born on this day in Ottawa, Canada, rock sensation Alanis Nadine Morissette (1974–) carries the soul of a seeker. She has a twin brother, Wade, and was named after her father, Alan, a high school principal.

“I want to walk through life instead of being dragged through it,” she once said—words that echo the strength of a woman willing to feel it all and sing it true.

With fearless depth, Alanis dove into the wild waters of emotion and vulnerability with 1995’s breakthrough album, Jagged Little Pill. That album—raw, real, revolutionary—sold over 30 million copies. And she never stopped swimming. Thank You. The world keeps listening, and her honesty keeps shining.

Her lyrics are her lifeline. “People have always said I was an old soul,” she explained. “They said I was always a little more intense and introspective than everyone was used to seeing girls be, so they didn't know where to categorize me.”

In 1999, the introspective and expansive Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie earned her critical acclaim and commercial success. “There is no better feeling than when you write something you know is a piece of you and that, at some point, is going to communicate with someone else,” she shared with heartfelt grace.

Alanis sings with unapologetic fire—transforming pain into poetry and anger into awakening. Her voice is a torch. Her words are mirrors. “I’m saying what a lot of people would want to say but are too embarrassed,” said the artist who even portrayed God in Kevin Smith’s bold film Dogma (1999).

With So-Called Chaos (2004), her music continued to vibrantly explore passion with intensity, intelligence, and honesty. “My songwriting is confessional, very unadulterated… a very unfettered, spiritual experience,” she reflected.

“Instead of remembering what I’m not supposed to say or share, it takes a lot less energy to say whatever my experience is. I wind up feeling more connected with people, and that’s ultimately my goal.” Her candor is a lifeline for those still learning to swim through their own truth.