Chad Kroeger: 'Avril Lavigne engagement news was a shock to my parents'

Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger's engagement news came as a shock for the Nickelback frontman's parents as they had never even met his girlfriend.

The Canadian couple stunned fans last month (Jul12) by announcing wedding plans and Lavigne and her husband-to-be opened up about the proposal and their plans to Hello! Canada.

Kroeger, 37, tells the magazine he had an embarrassing phone chat with his mother shortly after the Complicated singer agreed to become his wife.

He says, "You never know what your parents are going to say when you tell them you're getting married - especially when it's with someone they haven't met yet!

"My mom is a huge fan of Avril's, so putting her on the speaker phone and telling her the news was hilarious and equally embarrassing."

Lavigne, who was previously married to Sum 41 star Deryck Whibley, insists everyone has been really positive about the couple's plans to wed: "Everyone is super stoked for us. The reaction from our friends and family has been awesome!"

However, Kroeger admits he has yet to visit Lavigne's hometown of Napanee, Ontario: "I find that almost as terrifying as telling your parents you're going to tie the knot. You just never know when someone is going to come out of the woodwork with a story that starts off with, 'Let me tell you about the time...'"