Melissa Etheridge

American singer-songwriter (born 1961)

This article is about the performer. For her eponymous album, see Melissa Etheridge (album).

Melissa Etheridge

Etheridge in 2011

Born|

Melissa Lou Etheridge

(1961-05-29) May 29, 1961 (age 63)

Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.

Occupations|

* Singer
* songwriter
* musician

Years active| 1985–present
Spouse|

Linda Wallem

(m. 2014)​

Partners|

* Julie Cypher (c. 1990; sep. 2000)
* Tammy Lynn Michaels (cp. 2003; sep. 2010)
(registered domestic partnership)

Children| 4
Musical career
Genres|

* Heartland rock[1]
* roots rock[2]
* folk rock[3]
* blues rock[4]
* country rock

Instruments|

* Vocals
* guitar
* piano

Labels|

* Island
* ME

Website| melissaetheridge.com

Musical artist

Signature

Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist. Her eponymous debut album was released in 1988 and became an underground success. It peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200[5] and its lead single, "Bring Me Some Water", garnered Etheridge her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female in 1989.[6] Her second album, Brave and Crazy, appeared that same year and earned Etheridge two more Grammy nominations. In 1992, Etheridge released her third album, Never Enough, and its lead single, "Ain't It Heavy", won Etheridge her first Grammy Award.[6]

In 1993, she released what would become her mainstream breakthrough album: Yes I Am. Its tracks "I'm the Only One", "If I Wanted To", and "Come to My Window" all reached the Top 40 in the United States, while the latter earned Etheridge her second Grammy Award.[6] Yes I Am spent 138 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 15,[5] and earned a RIAA certification of 6× Platinum,[7] her largest selling album to date. Her fifth album, Your Little Secret, was released in 1995 and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, her highest-charting album to date.[5] Its tracks "Nowhere to Go" and "I Want to Come Over" both reached the Top 40 in the United States.

Etheridge achieved further success with her albums Breakdown (1999), Skin (2001), and Lucky (2004). In October 2004, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage, performing a tribute to Janis Joplin with Joss Stone. Stone began the performance with "Cry Baby" and Etheridge, bald from chemotherapy, joined her to perform the song "Piece of My Heart".[8] Their performance was widely acclaimed, and India.Arie later wrote "I Am Not My Hair" about Etheridge.[9] Later that year, Etheridge released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled. A great commercial success, it peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200, and went Gold almost immediately.[7] Etheridge has released 16 studio albums to date, the most recent being One Way Out (2021).[10][11]

Etheridge is known for music with a mixture of "confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals".[3] She has been a gay and lesbian rights activist since her public coming out in January 1993.[12] Among her various accolades, Etheridge has received two Grammy Awards (from 15 nominations), and an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "I Need to Wake Up" from the film An Inconvenient Truth (2006).[13] She received the Berklee College of Music Honorary Doctor of Music Degree in 2006.[14] The following year, she was honored with the ASCAP Founders Award.[15] In September 2011, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[16]

## Early life and career

[edit]

Etheridge was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, the younger of two daughters of Elizabeth (Williamson), a computer consultant, and John Etheridge, an American Constitution teacher at her alma mater, Leavenworth High School. John Etheridge died in August 1991.[17]

Etheridge began guitar lessons aged eight.[18] She started to play in local country music groups in her teenage years and graduated from high school in 1979.[19][20] While attending college at Berklee College of Music, Etheridge played the club circuit around Boston. After three semesters, Etheridge decided to drop out of Berklee and move to Los Angeles to attempt a career in music.[3]

## Career

[edit]

### 1982–1992: Road to rock stardom

[edit]

Etheridge was discovered at Vermie's, a bar in Pasadena, California. She had made some friends on a women's soccer team, and those new friends came to see her play. One of the women was Karla Leopold, whose husband, Bill Leopold, was a manager in the music business. Karla convinced Bill to see Etheridge perform live. He was impressed, and became a pivotal part of Etheridge's career.[21] This, in addition to her gigs in lesbian bars around Los Angeles, led to her discovery by Island Records chief Chris Blackwell. She signed a publishing deal to write songs for films including the 1986 movie Weeds.[22]

After an unreleased first effort that was rejected by Island Records as being too polished and glossy, she completed her stripped-down, self-titled debut in just four days. Her eponymous debut album Melissa Etheridge (1988), was an underground hit, and the single "Bring Me Some Water" performed well on radio and was nominated for a Grammy Award.[22]

At the time of the album's release, it was not generally known that Etheridge was a lesbian. While on the road promoting the album, she paused in Memphis, Tennessee, to be interviewed for the syndicated radio program Pulsebeat—Voice of the Heartland, explaining the intensity of her music by saying: "People think I'm really sad—or really angry. But my songs are written about the conflicts I have...I have no anger toward anyone else."[23] She invited the radio syndication producer to attend her concert that night. He did and was surprised to find himself one of the few men in attendance.[24]

Etheridge's second album, Brave and Crazy, was released in 1989.[25] Brave and Crazy followed the same musical formula as her eponymous debut; it also garnered a Grammy nomination. The album peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard charts (equal to her first album). Etheridge then went on the road, like one of her musical influences, Bruce Springsteen, and built a loyal fan base.[26]

In 1992, Etheridge released her third album, Never Enough. Similar to her prior two albums, Never Enough didn't reach the top of the charts, peaking at No. 21, but gave Etheridge her first Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single "Ain't It Heavy". Never Enough was considered a more personal and mature album from Etheridge at that time. With rumors circulating around her sexuality (Etheridge was not out yet at this point), the album seemed to inadvertently address these rumors.[27]

In 1992, Etheridge established a performing arts scholarship at Leavenworth High School in honor of her recently deceased father. According to Etheridge, her father purchased her first guitar and "would come with me to bars in the area when I played because I was underage".[28]

### 1993–1995: Yes I Am and Your Little Secret

[edit]

In January 1993, Etheridge came out publicly as a lesbian. On September 21, 1993, she released Yes I Am, which became her mainstream breakthrough album.[29] Co-produced with Hugh Padgham, Yes I Am spent 138 weeks on the Billboard 200 charts and peaked at No. 15. It scored two mainstream hits: "Come to My Window" and her only Billboard Top 10 single, "I'm the Only One", which also hit #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Yes I Am earned a RIAA certification of 6× platinum.[7]

Etheridge earned her second Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single "Come to My Window". She also garnered two additional nominations in the Best Rock Song category for "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window", losing to Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia".[30]

In 1993, Etheridge boycotted playing shows in Colorado over its passage of Amendment 2.[26]

Also in 1994, she was honored by VH-1 for her work with the AIDS organization L.A. Shanti. During the televised occasion, she highlighted the appearance with a performance of "I'm the Only One" and a duet with Sammy Hagar covering The Rolling Stones' song, "Honky Tonk Women."[31]

Melissa Etheridge concert ticket, 1995

The album's fifth single, "If I Wanted To", debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 25 in February 1995 and peaked at No. 16 later that March.[5][32]

The success of Yes I Am helped increase sales of Etheridge's earlier albums. In 1995, Melissa Etheridge earned a RIAA certification of 2× platinum, while Never Enough earned a RIAA certification of platinum.[7]

Etheridge's follow-up to Yes I Am was the successful Your Little Secret (1995). The album was not as well received by critics as Etheridge's prior recordings. Featuring a lead single of the same name, Your Little Secret is the highest-charting album of Etheridge's career, having reached No. 6 on the Billboard album charts; however, the album spent only 41 weeks on the chart. The album produced two Top 40 singles "I Want to Come Over" (Billboard #22, RPM #1) and "Nowhere to Go" (Billboard #40) and earned a RIAA certification of 2× platinum.[7]

### 1996–2003: After her breakthrough

[edit]

In 1996, Etheridge won an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year award. She also took a lengthy break from the music business to concentrate on her family when her first two children Bailey (1997) and Beckett (1998) were born.[33][22] She also recorded "Sin Tener A Donde Ir (Nowhere to Go)" for the AIDS benefit album Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin produced by the Red Hot Organization.[34]

Etheridge returned to the music charts with the release of Breakdown in October 1999. Breakdown peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard charts and spent 18 weeks in the charts. Despite this, Breakdown was the only album of Etheridge's career to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album (losing to Santana's Supernatural). In addition, her single "Angels Would Fall" was nominated in two categories: Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (losing to Sheryl Crow) and Best Rock Song (losing to the Red Hot Chili Peppers) in 2000. A year later, another single from the album--"Enough of Me"—was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (also losing to Sheryl Crow). The album was certified gold by the RIAA.[7]

The year 2001 saw the release of Skin, an album she described as "the closest I've ever come to recording a concept album. It has a beginning, middle and end. It's a journey." Skin garnered generally positive reviews with Metacritic scoring the album 73/100 from 9 reviews.[35] Recorded after her breakup with partner Julie Cypher, Skin was described as "[a] harrowing, clearly autobiographical dissection of a decaying relationship." Despite positive reviews, Skin sold less than 500,000 copies. On the Billboard charts, it peaked at No. 9 but dropped out of the Top 200 after just 12 weeks. The single "I Want to Be in Love" was nominated for the Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (losing to Lucinda Williams). The music video for the song starred Jennifer Aniston.[36]

In 2002, Etheridge released an autobiography entitled The Truth Is: My Life in Love and Music.[37]

### 2004–2008: Lucky, cancer diagnosis, Academy Awards and The Awakening

[edit]

Etheridge performs during the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado

Etheridge began 2004 with the release of her eighth album Lucky on February 10. Etheridge was now in a new relationship with actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, whom she had begun dating in 2001. Lucky performed similarly to Skin, selling fewer than 500,000 copies, peaking on the Billboard charts at No. 15 and spending 13 weeks on the charts. It also garnered a Grammy nomination for Etheridge's cover of the Greenwheel song "Breathe" for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo (losing to Bruce Springsteen).[38]

In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the 2005 Grammy Awards (the same ceremony for which "Breathe" was nominated), she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge's performance was lauded in song in India.Arie's "I Am Not My Hair".[9]

On September 10, 2005, Etheridge participated in ReAct Now: Music & Relief, a telethon in support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. ReAct Now, part of an ongoing effort by MTV, VH1, CMT, seeks to raise funds for the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and America's Second Harvest. Etheridge introduced a new song specially written for the occasion called "Four Days". The a cappella song included themes and images that were on the news during the aftermath of the hurricane. Other charities she supports include The Dream Foundation and Love Our Children USA.[39][40]

In November 2005, Etheridge appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to perform her song "I Run for Life".[41]

Etheridge wrote "I Need to Wake Up" for the film documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2006. The song was released only on the enhanced version of her greatest hits album, The Road Less Traveled.[42][43]

Etheridge was also a judge for the 5th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[44]

In August 2006, Etheridge also produced and sang the vocal tracks on the Brother Bear 2 soundtrack, including collaborations with Josh Kelley.[45]

On July 7, 2007, Etheridge performed at the Giants Stadium on the American leg of Live Earth. Etheridge performed the songs "Imagine That" and "What Happens Tomorrow" from The Awakening, her tenth album, released on September 25, 2007, as well as the song "I Need To Wake Up" before introducing Al Gore. On December 11, 2007, she performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, together with a variety of artists, a concert which was broadcast live to over 100 countries.[46] In addition, she performed at the U.S. 2008 Democratic National Convention on August 27, 2008.[47]

### 2009–2015: Fearless Love, 4th Street Feeling, and This Is M.E.

[edit]

Etheridge performing live. Spirit Mountain, August 2010

Etheridge was featured in UniGlobe Entertainment's breast cancer docudrama titled 1 a Minute released in 2010.[48]

Etheridge performed the role of St. Jimmy in Green Day's hit Broadway musical, American Idiot from February 1–6, 2011.[49][50]

Etheridge performed her new song "Uprising of Love" in the 2013–2014 New Year's Eve celebration in New York City's Times Square along with the rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" before the ball drop. The single was released on iTunes on January 28, 2014.[51][52]

In 2014, she was one of the performers at the opening ceremonies of WorldPride in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, alongside Tom Robinson, Deborah Cox and Steve Grand.[53]

On July 1, 2014, she released "Take My Number", the first single from her 13th studio album This Is M.E.. The cover art for the album is a mosaic that includes pictures submitted by fans. Etheridge explains the album cover on her official website: "Because my fans are such a huge part of ME, and I wouldn't be ME without YOU, I took photos submitted by my fans and turned it into my album cover." The album was released on September 30, 2014.[54]

On June 9, 2015, she released a live album titled: A Little Bit of Me: Live in L.A.. It was recorded at the closing show of the U.S. leg of her This Is M.E. Tour on December 12, 2014, at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles.[55]

### 2016–present: MEmphis Rock and Soul, The Medicine Show, and One Way Out

[edit]

Etheridge performing live on Broadway, October 10, 2023

On October 6, 2016, Etheridge released her 14th studio album, MEmphis Rock and Soul,[56] a covers album made of blues tracks originally recorded by blues legends such as Otis Redding, William Bell, and the Staples Singers.[57]

On April 12, 2019, Etheridge released her 15th studio album The Medicine Show.[58] The first single released from the album was titled "Faded by Design".[57]

On September 17, 2021, Etheridge released a new album, One Way Out on BMG.[10][11] The album is composed of songs written in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but recorded recently with her original band, although the last two songs were recorded live at the Roxy in Los Angeles in 2002.[59]

In March 2022, Etheridge was announced as a strategic advisor for the Inpink platform by Gritty In Pink alongside Arlan Hamilton and Live Nation.[60]

In September 2023, Etheridge premiered her one-woman show Melissa Etheridge: My Window at Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City.[61]

## Personal life

[edit]

Etheridge came out publicly as a lesbian in January 1993 at the Triangle Ball, a homosexual-themed celebration of President Bill Clinton's first inauguration.[29][62] Etheridge supported Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign and since coming out, has been a gay rights activist. She is also an advocate for environmental issues and in 2006, she toured the US and Canada using biodiesel.[63]

Etheridge speaking in 2005

Etheridge had a long-term partnership with Julie Cypher, and their relationship received coverage in The Advocate, when an interview with editor Judy Wieder done in Amsterdam, "The Great Dyke Hope", was released in July 1994. In it, Etheridge answered Wieder's questions about why the couple wanted to have children: "I think one of the many fears people have about homosexuality is around children. I think that the more gay parents raise good, strong, compassionate people, the better the world will be."[64] During this partnership, Cypher gave birth to two children, Bailey Jean and Beckett.[65] Cypher became pregnant via artificial insemination using sperm donated by musician David Crosby.[66] On September 19, 2000, Etheridge and Cypher announced they were separating.[67]

In 2002, Etheridge began dating actress Tammy Lynn Michaels.[68] The two had a commitment ceremony on September 20, 2003.[69] On October 17, 2006, Michaels gave birth to fraternal twins, Johnnie Rose and Miller Steven, who were conceived via an anonymous sperm donor.[70][71]

In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery[72] and chemotherapy.[73] In October 2005, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Etheridge appeared on Dateline NBC with Michaels to discuss her struggle with cancer. By the time of the interview, Etheridge's hair had grown back after being lost during chemotherapy. She said that her partner had been very supportive during her illness. Etheridge also discussed using medicinal marijuana while she was receiving the chemotherapy.[74]

In October 2008, five months after the Supreme Court of California overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, Etheridge announced that she and Michaels were planning to marry but were currently "trying to find the right time... to go down and do it".[75] In November 2008, in response to the passing of California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage, Etheridge announced that she would not pay her state taxes as an act of civil disobedience.[76] On April 15, 2010, Etheridge and Michaels announced they had separated.[77] In May 2012, it was announced that their two-year child support battle had been settled.[78]

Etheridge performing at a September 2011 ceremony where she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Etheridge supported Barack Obama's decision to have Pastor Rick Warren speak at his 2009 Presidential inauguration, believing that he can sponsor dialogue to bridge the gap between gay and straight Christians. She stated in her column at The Huffington Post that "Sure, there are plenty of hateful people who will always hold on to their bigotry like a child to a blanket. But there are also good people out there, Christian and otherwise, that are beginning to listen."[79]

In 2013, Etheridge called Angelina Jolie's choice to have a double mastectomy to avoid the possibility of breast cancer a "fearful" choice. Etheridge told the Washington Blade in an interview that "my belief is that cancer comes from inside you and so much of it has to do with the environment of your body...It's the stress that will turn that gene on or not...I really encourage people to go a lot longer and further before coming to that conclusion."[80] Andrea Geduld, the director of the Breast Health Resource Center at Mt. Sinai Hospital, criticized Etheridge's remarks. Experts also cautioned that Etheridge's statements were not accurate.[81]

In a 2013 interview with CNN after the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions in United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry, Etheridge stated that she planned to marry her partner, Linda Wallem.[82] The couple married on May 31, 2014, in San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, two days after they both turned 53.[83]

Etheridge was featured on a 2015 episode of Who Do You Think You Are?[84]

Starting in 2014, Etheridge partnered with a California medical marijuana dispensary to make cannabis-infused wine.[85]

A 2016 article in The New York Times stated that Etheridge wore hearing aids.[86]

In 2019, her daughter, Bailey Cypher, graduated from Columbia University.[87][88]

On May 13, 2020, Etheridge announced on her Twitter that Beckett, her son with Cypher, had died of causes related to opioid addiction at the age of 21.[89][90]

## Awards and honors

[edit]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Melissa Etheridge

Etheridge shared her personal experiences of advocating for the LGBT community at a United States Department of Justice Event

Etheridge has received various accolades and honors throughout her career. Among her competitive awards, she has won two Grammy Awards (from 15 nominations),[6] an Academy Award,[13] and a Juno Award.[91]

Among her honorary accolades, she has received the ASCAP Founders Award,[15] an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music,[14] and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[16]

She ranked No. 49 on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll in 1999.[92]

## Discography

[edit]

Main article: Melissa Etheridge discography

* Melissa Etheridge (1988)
* Brave and Crazy (1989)
* Never Enough (1992)
* Yes I Am (1993)
* Your Little Secret (1995)
* Breakdown (1999)
* Skin (2001)
* Lucky (2004)
* The Awakening (2007)
* A New Thought For Christmas (2008)
* Fearless Love (2010)
* 4th Street Feeling (2012)
* This Is M.E. (2014)
* MEmphis Rock and Soul (2016)
* The Medicine Show (2019)
* One Way Out (2021)

## Published works

[edit]

* Etheridge, Melissa; Morton, Laura (2002) [2001]. The Truth Is...: My Life in Love and Music (Trade paperback ed.). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-307-76564-2. OCLC 49971087. First autobiography.
* Etheridge, Melissa (2023). Talking to My Angels. New York: Harper Wave. ISBN 9780063257450. OCLC 1381904417.

## See also

[edit]

* List of celebrities who own cannabis businesses

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ross, Mike. "Melissa Etheridge has fun with Edmonton fans at Jubilee Auditorium". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
2. ^ Gentile, John (January 27, 2014). "Melissa Etheridge Seeks to Unite on 'Uprising of Love' – Song Premiere". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
3. ^ a b c Greg Prato. "Melissa Etheridge". Retrieved May 23, 2010.
4. ^ Carpenter, Susan (October 17, 2005). "Alive and well and at peace with herself". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
5. ^ a b c d "Melissa Etheridge – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
6. ^ a b c d "Melissa Etheridge". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
7. ^ a b c d e f "American certifications – Melissa Etheridge". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
8. ^ "Melissa Etheridge on Life After Breast Cancer – Shape Magazine". Shape.com. April 22, 2009. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
9. ^ a b Gail Mitchell (October 6, 2006). "India.Arie's 'Hair' Regrows With Pink". Billboard.com.
10. ^ a b Leiber, Sarah Jae (May 25, 2021). "Melissa Etheridge Releases New Single 'One Way Out'". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
11. ^ a b Mike O'Cull (September 17, 2021). "Review: Melissa Etheridge One Way Out". Rock & Blues Muse. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
12. ^ Luca Prono (2008). Melissa Etheridge. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313335990. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
13. ^ a b "Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database – Melissa Etheridge". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
14. ^ a b "BERKLEE | Commencement 2006". Berklee.edu. May 13, 2006. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
15. ^ a b "ASCAP Founders Award". March 2, 2014. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
16. ^ a b "Melissa Etheridge Lands Hollywood Walk of Fame Star". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
17. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Takes the Long Hard Road from the Heartland to Hollywood". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
18. ^ "'I considered having kids with Brad Pitt': Melissa Etheridge on music, motherhood and coming out". the Guardian. November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
19. ^ "Pieces of her heart". Irishexaminer.com. February 16, 2012.
20. ^ Brendel, Dale. "Leavenworth's own Melissa Etheridge lets us .... inside her window". The Leavenworth Times – Leavenworth, Kansas.
21. ^ Etheridge, Melissa; Morton, Laura (2002). The Truth Is ...: My Life in Love and Music (2nd ed.). New York: Random House. p. 72\. ISBN 978-0-307-76564-2.
22. ^ a b c cmt.com. "Melissa Etheridge". MTV Networks. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
23. ^ Dickerson, James L. (2005) "Go, Girl, Go! The Women's Revolution in Music", Schirmer Trade Books, p. 115.
24. ^ Dickerson, James L. (2005) "Go, Girl, Go! The Women's Revolution in Music", Schirmer Trade Books, p. 114.
25. ^ "Brave and Crazy – Melissa Etheridge | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
26. ^ a b "Station spurs Etheridge". September 10, 1993. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
27. ^ Loftus, Johnny (March 17, 1992). "Never Enough – Melissa Etheridge". AllMusic. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
28. ^ "SCHOLARSHIP VENERATES MEMORY OF SINGER'S DAD". Deseret News. May 20, 1992.
29. ^ a b Jeremy Bonfiglio (June 15, 2017). "Melissa Etheridge taps into her Memphis soul". HeraldPalladium.com. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
30. ^ "THE 37TH GRAMMY NOMINATIONS". Los Angeles Times. January 6, 1995. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
31. ^ Joyce Luck (1997). Melissa Etheridge: Our Little Secret. ECW Press. p. 166\. ISBN 9781550222982.
32. ^ Fred Bronson (February 18, 1995). ""Bow" Wows at No. 2; Hot Shot Melissa (page 122)". Billboard (Google Books). Retrieved September 7, 2017.
33. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Speaks Candidly About the Intricacies of LGBTQ Parenting". Parents.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
34. ^ "Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin". redhot.org. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
35. ^ Metacritic.com. "Metacritic review of Skin". Metacritic. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
36. ^ "Melissa Etheridge – I Want To Be In Love". YouTube. October 8, 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
37. ^ Etheridge, Morton (June 19, 2001). The Truth Is... My Life in Love and Music (1 ed.). New York: Villard. ISBN 0375505997. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
38. ^ "The Seattle Times: Arts & Entertainment: Kanye West is at top of Grammy list". The Seattle Times. June 29, 2011. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
39. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Is One of the World's Most Charitable Artists » Dream Foundation". dreamfoundation.org. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
40. ^ "Melissa Etheridge: Charity Work & Causes". Look to the Stars. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
41. ^ Fanto, Clarence (January 17, 2013). "Melissa Etheridge, Warren Haynes in Jerry Garcia tribute on tap for Tanglewood". The Berkshire Eagle.
42. ^ "MelissaEtheridge.com – Melissa". September 11, 2007. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
43. ^ "MelissaEtheridge.com – Melissa". September 11, 2007. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
44. ^ "Independent Music Awards – Past Judges". Independentmusicawards.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
45. ^ "Brother Bear 2 – DVD Press Release". Ultimatedisney.com. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
46. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2007". Nobelpeaceprize.org. Archived from the original on December 7, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
47. ^ "Award-winning singer and songwriter Melissa Etheridge and Paul Sayce..." Getty Images. August 28, 2008.
48. ^ "Mcg | Indian Star Rallies Celebrity Support For Cancer Movie". Contactmusic. October 8, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
49. ^ "Melissa Etheridge to Play ST. JIMMY in AMERICAN IDIOT Feb. 1-6". January 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
50. ^ "BWW TV: Melissa Etheridge Takes the Stage with the AMERICAN IDIOTS!". Broadwayworld.com. February 2, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
51. ^ Gentile, John (January 27, 2014). "Melissa Etheridge Seeks to Unite on 'Uprising of Love' – Song Premiere". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
52. ^ "Melissa Etheridge's Remix: "Uprising of Love" Honors & Supports the Safety & Dignity of LGBT Russians". The Rainbow Times. December 20, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
53. ^ "Rise Up" the theme as WorldPride 2014 arrives. Toronto Star, June 19, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
54. ^ "Melissa Etheridge". melissaetheridge.com. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
55. ^ Etheridge, Melissa (2015). A Little Bit Of ME: Live In L.A. (Media notes). North America: Rock Fuel. SF 15935.
56. ^ "MEmphis Rock and Soul: New Album + Tour Dates". Melissa Etheridge. August 2, 2016. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
57. ^ a b Shteamer, Hank (February 21, 2019). "Hear Melissa Etheridge's New Ode to 'Plant Medicine,' Cannabis". Rolling Stone.
58. ^ Kreps, Daniel (April 13, 2019). "Watch Melissa Etheridge Perform 'Medicine Show' Songs on 'CBS This Morning'". Rolling Stone.
59. ^ Lewry, Fraser (September 15, 2021). "Melissa Etheridge's reveals the secrets of new album One Way Out". Louder. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
60. ^ "Gritty In Pink Joins Forces with Melissa Etheridge to launch INPINK Marketplace, Aiming to Change the Landscape for Women in Music". Guitar Girl Magazine. March 29, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
61. ^ Deitch, Trish (September 28, 2023). "'Melissa Etheridge: My Window' Review: A Broadway Memoir, Confession and Concert That's Worthy of Applause". Variety. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
62. ^ Brown, Patricia Leigh (January 21, 1993). "THE INAUGURATION: Pomp, Patriotism and Primping; Far More Than 10,000 Maniacs Revel in Capital as Bubbles Banish Fatigue (Published 1993)". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
63. ^ "Celebrities". Biodiesel Resource. Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
64. ^ Wieder, Judy (2001). Wieder, Judy (ed.). Celebrity: The Advocate Interviews. New York: Advocate Books. p. 29\. ISBN 1-55583-722-0.
65. ^ Rosman, Katherine (October 7, 2016). "A Mother-Daughter Night With Melissa Etheridge". The New York Times.
66. ^ "Etheridge And Crosby Talk". CBS News. January 17, 2000.
67. ^ "Etheridge And Cypher Call It Quits". CBS News. September 19, 2000.
68. ^ Warn, Sarah (April 18, 2002). "Tammy Lynn Michaels Comes Out — an Un-"Popular" Career Move? | People, Celebrities, Actresses & Profiles Of Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Women In Movies, TV Shows & Music". AfterEllen.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
69. ^ Joyce Eng (April 15, 2010). "Melissa and Tammy Etheridge Separate". Retrieved September 7, 2017.
70. ^ "Melissa Etheridge and Partner Tammy Lynn Michaels Have Twins". Associated Press. March 25, 2015.
71. ^ "Twins for Melissa Etheridge & Partner". People.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
72. ^ "Melissa Etheridge's Battle with Cancer". People.
73. ^ NBC, Dateline (February 22, 2005). "Melissa Etheridge's brave comeback". msnbc.com.
74. ^ "NBC Dateline interview, aired 10/16/05". NBC News. October 16, 2005. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
75. ^ Marisa Laudadio (October 1, 2008). "Melissa Etheridge Plans to Tie the Knot Again – Couples, Melissa Etheridge, Tammy Lynn Michaels". People.com. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
76. ^ Melissa Etheridge Refuses to Pay Taxes Over Gay-Marriage Ban" TV Guide. November 8, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
77. ^ "Melissa and Tammy Etheridge Separate". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
78. ^ "Melissa Etheridge settles child support case". The San Francisco Chronicle. May 1, 2012. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
79. ^ The Choice is ours now. The Huffington Post. Published December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
80. ^ Lou Chibbaro (October 21, 2016). "Melissa Etheridge on Wolf Trap and drastic health steps | Washington". Washington Blade. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
81. ^ "Experts: Melissa Etheridge's Comments On Angelina Jolie Out Of Line". KMBZ.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
82. ^ "Singer Melissa Etheridge to wed after gay marriage ruling". Reuters. June 26, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
83. ^ K.C. Baker (May 31, 2014). "Melissa Etheridge Weds Linda Wallem". People. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
84. ^ "Exclusive: Watch Melissa Etheridge Discover Her Heritage on 'Who Do You Think You Are?'". Billboard. April 23, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
85. ^ Parvati Shallow (December 3, 2014). "Cannabis-infused Wine Delivers a "Full Body Buzz" Says Melissa Etheridge". CBSNews. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
86. ^ Katherine Rosman (October 7, 2016). "A Mother-Daughter Night With Melissa Etheridge". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2017. "How does a rock star begin an evening? She puts in her hearing aids."
87. ^ Hegedus, Eric (June 27, 2019). "Melissa Etheridge on being out: 'We can't get gay enough right now!'". New York Post. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
88. ^ Rosman, Katherine (October 7, 2016). "A Mother-Daughter Night With Melissa Etheridge (Published 2016)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
89. ^ Etheridge, Melissa (May 13, 2020). "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
90. ^ Aswad, Jem (May 13, 2020). "Beckett Cypher, Melissa Etheridge's Son, Dies at 21". Variety.com. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
91. ^ "The Envelope – LA Times". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008.
92. ^ "VH1: 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll". Rock on the Net. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2017.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Perone, James E. (2014). The Words and Music of Melissa Etheridge. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-4408-3007-5.

## External links

[edit]

Melissa Etheridge at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
* Data from Wikidata

* Official website
* Melissa Etheridge at AllMusic
* Melissa Etheridge at IMDb
* Melissa Etheridge at the Internet Broadway Database

* v
* t
* e

Melissa Etheridge

Albums|

* Melissa Etheridge
* Brave and Crazy
* Never Enough
* Yes I Am
* Your Little Secret
* Breakdown
* Skin
* Lucky
* The Awakening
* A New Thought for Christmas
* Fearless Love
* 4th Street Feeling
* This Is M.E.
* MEmphis Rock and Soul
* The Medicine Show
* One Way Out

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled

Notable singles|

* "Bring Me Some Water"
* "Like the Way I Do"
* "No Souvenirs"
* "You Can Sleep While I Drive"
* "I'm the Only One"
* "Come to My Window"
* "If I Wanted To"
* "Your Little Secret"
* "I Want to Come Over"
* "Angels Would Fall"
* "Scarecrow"
* "I Want to Be in Love"
* "Breathe"
* "Refugee"
* "I Need to Wake Up"
* "Message to Myself"
* "Fearless Love"

Featured singles|

* "Cry Baby"/"Piece of My Heart"
* "Just Stand Up!"
* "Sing"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Julie Cypher
* Tammy Lynn Michaels
* Linda Wallem
* "I Am Not My Hair"

* v
* t
* e

Academy Award for Best Original Song

1934–1940|

* "The Continental"
* Music: Con Conrad
* Lyrics: Herb Magidson (1934)
* "Lullaby of Broadway"
* Music: Harry Warren
* Lyrics: Al Dubin (1935)
* "The Way You Look Tonight"
* Music: Jerome Kern
* Lyrics: Dorothy Fields (1936)
* "Sweet Leilani"
* Music and lyrics: Harry Owens (1937)
* "Thanks for the Memory"
* Music: Ralph Rainger
* Lyrics: Leo Robin (1938)
* "Over the Rainbow"
* Music: Harold Arlen
* Lyrics: E. Y. Harburg (1939)
* "When You Wish Upon a Star"
* Music: Leigh Harline
* Lyrics: Ned Washington (1940)

1941–1950|

* "The Last Time I Saw Paris"
* Music: Jerome Kern
* Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II (1941)
* "White Christmas"
* Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin (1942)
* "You'll Never Know"
* Music: Harry Warren
* Lyrics: Mack Gordon (1943)
* "Swinging on a Star"
* Music: Jimmy Van Heusen
* Lyrics: Johnny Burke (1944)
* "It Might as Well Be Spring"
* Music: Richard Rodgers
* Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II (1945)
* "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"
* Music: Harry Warren
* Lyrics: Johnny Mercer (1946)
* "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"
* Music: Allie Wrubel
* Lyrics: Ray Gilbert (1947)
* "Buttons and Bows"
* Music: Jay Livingston
* Lyrics: Ray Evans (1948)
* "Baby, It's Cold Outside"
* Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser (1949)
* "Mona Lisa"
* Music and lyrics: Ray Evans and Jay Livingston (1950)

1951–1960|

* "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening"
* Music: Hoagy Carmichael
* Lyrics: Johnny Mercer (1951)
* "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin')"
* Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
* Lyrics: Ned Washington (1952)
* "Secret Love"
* Music: Sammy Fain
* Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster (1953)
* "Three Coins in the Fountain"
* Music: Jule Styne
* Lyrics: Sammy Cahn (1954)
* "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing"
* Music: Sammy Fain
* Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster (1955)
* "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)"
* Music and lyrics: Jay Livingston and Ray Evans (1956)
* "All the Way"
* Music: Jimmy Van Heusen
* Lyrics: Sammy Cahn (1957)
* "Gigi"
* Music: Frederick Loewe
* Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner (1958)
* "High Hopes"
* Music: Jimmy Van Heusen
* Lyrics: Sammy Cahn (1959)
* "Never on Sunday"
* Music and lyrics: Manos Hatzidakis (1960)

1961–1970|

* "Moon River"
* Music: Henry Mancini
* Lyrics: Johnny Mercer (1961)
* "Days of Wine and Roses"
* Music: Henry Mancini
* Lyrics: Johnny Mercer (1962)
* "Call Me Irresponsible"
* Music: Jimmy Van Heusen
* Lyrics: Sammy Cahn (1963)
* "Chim Chim Cher-ee"
* Music and lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (1964)
* "The Shadow of Your Smile"
* Music: Johnny Mandel
* Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster (1965)
* "Born Free"
* Music: John Barry
* Lyrics: Don Black (1966)
* "Talk to the Animals"
* Music and lyrics: Leslie Bricusse (1967)
* "The Windmills of Your Mind"
* Music: Michel Legrand
* Lyrics: Alan and Marilyn Bergman (1968)
* "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
* Music: Burt Bacharach
* Lyrics: Hal David (1969)
* "For All We Know"
* Music: Fred Karlin
* Lyrics: Robb Royer and Jimmy Griffin (1970)

1971–1980|

* "Theme from Shaft"
* Music and lyrics: Isaac Hayes (1971)
* "The Morning After"
* Music and lyrics: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn (1972)
* "The Way We Were"
* Music: Marvin Hamlisch
* Lyrics: Alan and Marilyn Bergman (1973)
* "We May Never Love Like This Again"
* Music and lyrics: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn (1974)
* "I'm Easy"
* Music and lyrics: Keith Carradine (1975)
* "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)"
* Music: Barbra Streisand
* Lyrics: Paul Williams (1976)
* "You Light Up My Life"
* Music and lyrics: Joseph Brooks (1977)
* "Last Dance"
* Music and lyrics: Paul Jabara (1978)
* "It Goes Like It Goes"
* Music: David Shire
* Lyrics: Norman Gimbel (1979)
* "Fame"
* Music: Michael Gore
* Lyrics: Dean Pitchford (1980)

1981–1990|

* "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
* Music and lyrics: Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Christopher Cross and Peter Allen (1981)
* "Up Where We Belong"
* Music: Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie
* Lyrics: Will Jennings (1982)
* "Flashdance... What a Feeling"
* Music: Giorgio Moroder
* Lyrics: Keith Forsey and Irene Cara (1983)
* "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
* Music and lyrics: Stevie Wonder (1984)
* "Say You, Say Me"
* Music and lyrics: Lionel Richie (1985)
* "Take My Breath Away"
* Music: Giorgio Moroder
* Lyrics: Tom Whitlock (1986)
* "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
* Music: Franke Previte, John DeNicola and Donald Markowitz
* Lyrics: Franke Previte (1987)
* "Let the River Run"
* Music and lyrics: Carly Simon (1988)
* "Under the Sea"
* Music: Alan Menken
* Lyrics: Howard Ashman (1989)
* "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)"
* Music and lyrics: Stephen Sondheim (1990)

1991–2000|

* "Beauty and the Beast"
* Music: Alan Menken
* Lyrics: Howard Ashman (1991)
* "A Whole New World"
* Music: Alan Menken
* Lyrics: Tim Rice (1992)
* "Streets of Philadelphia"
* Music and lyrics: Bruce Springsteen (1993)
* "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
* Music: Elton John
* Lyrics: Tim Rice (1994)
* "Colors of the Wind"
* Music: Alan Menken
* Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz (1995)
* "You Must Love Me"
* Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
* Lyrics: Tim Rice (1996)
* "My Heart Will Go On"
* Music: James Horner
* Lyrics: Will Jennings (1997)
* "When You Believe"
* Music and lyrics: Stephen Schwartz (1998)
* "You'll Be in My Heart"
* Music and lyrics: Phil Collins (1999)
* "Things Have Changed"
* Music and lyrics: Bob Dylan (2000)

2001–2010|

* "If I Didn't Have You"
* Music and lyrics: Randy Newman (2001)
* "Lose Yourself"
* Music: Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto
* Lyrics: Eminem (2002)
* "Into the West"
* Music and lyrics: Fran Walsh, Howard Shore and Annie Lennox (2003)
* "Al otro lado del río"
* Music and lyrics: Jorge Drexler (2004)
* "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp"
* Music and lyrics: Juicy J, Frayser Boy and DJ Paul (2005)
* "I Need to Wake Up"
* Music and lyrics: Melissa Etheridge (2006)
* "Falling Slowly"
* Music and lyrics: Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (2007)
* "Jai Ho"
* Music: A. R. Rahman
* Lyrics: Gulzar (2008)
* "The Weary Kind"
* Music and lyrics: Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett (2009)
* "We Belong Together"
* Music and lyrics: Randy Newman (2010)

2011–2020|

* "Man or Muppet"
* Music and lyrics: Bret McKenzie (2011)
* "Skyfall"
* Music and lyrics: Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth (2012)
* "Let It Go"
* Music and lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (2013)
* "Glory"
* Music and lyrics: John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn (2014)
* "Writing's on the Wall"
* Music and lyrics: James Napier and Sam Smith (2015)
* "City of Stars"
* Music: Justin Hurwitz
* Lyrics: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (2016)
* "Remember Me"
* Music and lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (2017)
* "Shallow"
* Music and lyrics: Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt (2018)
* "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again"
* Music: Elton John
* Lyrics: Bernie Taupin (2019)
* "Fight for You"
* Music: D'Mile and H.E.R.
* Lyrics: H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas (2020)

2021–present|

* "No Time to Die"
* Music and lyrics: Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell (2021)
* "Naatu Naatu"
* Music: M. M. Keeravani
* Lyrics: Chandrabose (2022)
* "What Was I Made For?"
* Music and lyrics: Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell (2023)

* v
* t
* e

GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist

Outstanding Music Artist
(1991–present)|

* Two Nice Girls (1991)
* Phranc and John Corigliano (1992)
* Elton John and Garth Brooks (1993)
* Melissa Etheridge (1994)
* Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls, and Disappear Fear (1995)
* Boy George and Jill Sobule (1996)
* Meshell Ndegeocello (1997)
* Janet Jackson (1998)
* Rufus Wainwright and Queen Pen (1999)
* Indigo Girls (2000)
* k.d. lang (2001)
* k.d. lang and Tony Bennett (2003)
* Rufus Wainwright (2004)
* Scissor Sisters (2005)
* Melissa Etheridge (2006)
* Scissor Sisters (2007)
* Rufus Wainwright (2008)
* k.d. lang (2009)
* Lady Gaga (2010)
* Scissor Sisters (2011)
* Lady Gaga (2012)
* Adam Lambert and Frank Ocean (2013)
* Tegan and Sara (2014)
* Against Me! (2015)
* Troye Sivan (2016)
* Tegan and Sara (2017)
* Halsey (2018)
* Janelle Monáe (2019)
* Lil Nas X (2020)
* Sam Smith (2021)
* Lil Nas X (2022)
* Fletcher (2023)
* Reneé Rapp (2024)

Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist
(2021–present)|

* Chika (2021)
* Lily Rose (2022)
* Dove Cameron (2023)
* David Archuleta (2024)

Portals:

* Biography
* Pop music
* LGBTQ

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Czech Republic
* Spain
* Netherlands
* Israel

Artists|

* MusicBrainz
* Grammy Awards

Other|

* IdRef
* SNAC

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*[c.]: cohabited
*[sep.]: separated
*[cp.]: civil partnership started
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