Annie Villeneuve was born on May 5, 1983, in Jonquière, Quebec, Canada. She has a twin sister, Suzie Villeneuve, who also had a singing career until 2010. Villeneuve grew up around music and participated in her church choir. Later, she joined the choir La chorale des jeunes Saguenéens. In 2000, Villeneuve joined the musical group Québecissime from the Saguenay region. She has covered many popular songs by Canadian singers such as Celine Dion. In 2003, Villeneuve participated in the first season of Star Académie, a reality television show similar to American Idol or Canadian Idol. She was one of three female finalists. Villeneuve did not win; however, the experience brought her exposure and popularity among the Quebec public. She released her first album Quand je ferme les yeux in 2005. This album has sold more than 120,000 albums and was certified Platinum. Her songs Un ange qui passe and Tomber à l'eau remained number one on the BDS Billboard for many weeks. That same year, Villeneuve was nominated for three Adisq awards. She starred in the television showAnnie Villeneuve Acoustic. In the summer of 2007, Villeneuve co-hosted the artistic news TV show Flash. Villeneuve has worked with several famous artists such as Serge Lama and Garou. In 2005, Villeneuve was asked by Céline Dion to be a back-up singer at her show on Les Plaines d'Abraham for the ceremonies of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. In 2009, Villeneuve released her second album, Annie Villeneuve. Her song "Ce soir" topped the BDS Billboard charts and her singles "Mon Héros" and "Rien de mieux à faire" were also successful. This same year, Villeneuve met Guillaume Latendresse, a French Canadian hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens and who now plays for the Ottawa Senators. They have been together since. In the winter of 2010, Villeneuve worked with Stephan Moccio to record both a French and a bilingual version of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics theme song. On the day of the closing ceremonies, she performed the bilingual version of "I Believe/J'Imagine" with Nikki Yanofsky, accompanied by Stephan Moccio on piano. She is now considering performing and promoting herself in France. In autumn 2012, Annie released her third album, Telle qu'elle. She says about it that she is really proud of these songs, since she wrote and composed almost every one. Her songs discuss many serious and personal subjects. Her song Le sais-tu? is currently one of the most popular song in Quebec radios.
Talents
Villeneuve plays the piano, and during her shows she accompanies the song "Quand je ferme les yeux". As a speaker and presenter she took part in the reality show Star Académie in 2003. Later, in 2006, she co-hosted the television variety showDemandes spéciales with Marc-André Fortin and Audrey Gagnon. She and Patrick Marsolais also co-hosted the news programFlash.
Social involvement
Villeneuve supports a number of social causes. She is the spokesperson of the Leucan foundation, a Quebec organization that supports children with cancer or leukemia. Villeneuve has also been a spokesperson for the annual radio campaign, Le club des petits déjeuners du Québec. She participates in numerous charity telethons like Opération Enfant Soleil, a foundation that supports the development of pediatric care in Quebec.
