Avril Lavigne attends the 25th Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 20, 2018 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

On Thursday, (Sept. 6), iconic '00s singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne announced through her website that she will release her first single in years, "Head Above Water" on Sept. 19. In an emotional letter to fans, the singer revealed that in her five year absence she's been fighting Lyme Disease, but was able to turn her struggle into a powerful body of music.

Lavigne writes that she penned the single from bed, feeling like she was dying. "I had accepted death and could feel my body shutting down," she explains. "I felt like I was drowning. Like I was going under water and I just needed to come up for air." The music helped her find strength, and the release is her way of telling the story to fans.

"I have decided to be truthful about my struggle, open and more vulnerable than ever before," she says, before announcing that her foundation will now provide Lyme prevention resources. Soon, she will launch an initiative to educate and help others fighting the disease.

Read the entire letter here, and check out Lavigne's tweet below.