(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Avril Lavigne admires Madonnas longevity in the music industry but dislikes being compared to her.

The Canadian singer insists she admires Madonnas ability to continually reinvent herself and juggle her career and family life. However, Avril who releases her new album Goodbye Lullaby next month would prefer to be known an individual, rather than be judged against other music stars.

I definitely dont like being compared to other people. Madonna is Madonna and Im totally different to her, she told the Kyle and Jackie O radio show. I think what she has done is really great. She has worked really hard and had a wonderful career and balanced that out really well with having a family.

Avril whose last record was released in 2007 went on to say she hopes to stay in the industry for as long as 52-year-old Madonna.

The 26-year-old singer admits she did dream of becoming a worldwide star just like Madonna when she was growing up, but is now focusing on creating her own identity.

At one time that is something that I did say. I was like I wanna have a long career and hope to be around like Madonna shes done movies , shes done tours and all that stuff and its so much fun what I do and Id love to keep doing this for as long as I can, she added.

The singer who is currently dating The Hills star Brody Jenner also reflected on when she started out in the industry. Avril confessed she disliked doing interviews and was often withdrawn.

Im a really shy, introverted person and I was very young I was like a kid I was 17 on my first record and I was doing interviews and I really did hate doing them, but my record company made me do so many, and I didnt like it, she said.

All I cared about was singing, right, Im like this kid and Im like why have I got to talk to all these people? Of course now that Im older I understand and can have an adult conversation! (C) Cover Media