Melissa Etheridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melissa Etheridge
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Etheridge in 2011
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Melissa Lou Etheridge
May 29, 1961 Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.
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| Years active | 1985–present |
| Political party | Democratic |
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Linda Wallem
(m. 2014) |
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| Children | 4 |
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Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician famous for her powerful, raspy voice and rock music. She is known for writing honest songs about her life and playing the guitar.
Her first album, Melissa Etheridge, came out in 1988 and became a surprise hit. One of its songs, "Bring Me Some Water", earned her the first of many nominations for a Grammy Award. In 1993, she released her album Yes I Am, which made her a huge star. Songs like "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window" were major hits. "Come to My Window" won her a second Grammy Award.
Over her long career, Etheridge has released 16 studio albums. She also won an Academy Award for her song "I Need to Wake Up" from the movie An Inconvenient Truth.
Besides her music, Etheridge is a well-known activist for gay and lesbian rights. She publicly shared that she was a lesbian in 1993. In 2011, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to music.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Melissa Etheridge was born in Leavenworth, Kansas. She was the younger of two daughters. Her mother was a computer consultant, and her father was a high school teacher. Her father bought her first guitar and supported her early music career.
Etheridge started playing the guitar when she was eight years old. As a teenager, she played in local country music bands. After graduating from high school in 1979, she went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She played in clubs around the city but left college after a year and a half. She moved to Los Angeles, California, to follow her dream of becoming a professional musician.
Career in Music
1982–1992: Path to Stardom
In Los Angeles, Etheridge played at local clubs and bars. A manager in the music business, Bill Leopold, saw her perform and was very impressed. He helped her get a record deal with Island Records.
Her first album, Melissa Etheridge, was released in 1988. It was a big hit with listeners who discovered it through radio play. The single "Bring Me Some Water" was nominated for a Grammy Award. Her second album, Brave and Crazy (1989), was also successful and earned her two more Grammy nominations.
In 1992, she released her third album, Never Enough. The song "Ain't It Heavy" from this album won Etheridge her very first Grammy Award. This album was seen as more personal and mature than her earlier work.
1993–1995: Mainstream Success
In January 1993, Etheridge publicly announced that she was a lesbian. Later that year, she released Yes I Am. This album became her biggest success and made her a household name.
The album had several hit singles, including "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window". For "Come to My Window," she won her second Grammy Award. The album Yes I Am was extremely popular, selling over six million copies in the United States.
The success of Yes I Am also made people more interested in her earlier music. Her first two albums sold many more copies after she became a big star. In 1995, she released the album Your Little Secret, which also did very well. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard album charts, the highest position of her career.
1996–2003: Continued Career
After her big success, Etheridge took a break from music to focus on her family. She returned in 1999 with the album Breakdown. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.
In 2001, she released Skin. She described it as a concept album that tells a story from beginning to end. It was recorded after her breakup with her longtime partner, Julie Cypher. The album received good reviews from critics.
In 2002, Etheridge published her autobiography, a book about her life, called The Truth Is: My Life in Love and Music.
2004–2008: Health Challenges and an Oscar Win
In 2004, Etheridge released her eighth album, Lucky. Later that year, in October, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy, a strong medical treatment that often causes hair loss.
At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a powerful return to the stage. She was bald from her treatment but gave a celebrated performance of "Piece of My Heart" as a tribute to singer Janis Joplin. Many people were inspired by her strength.
In 2006, Etheridge wrote the song "I Need to Wake Up" for the documentary film An Inconvenient Truth. The film was about climate change. The song won an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar), which is one of the highest honors in the movie industry.
2009–Present: More Music and Broadway
Etheridge has continued to release new music and tour. In 2011, she performed for a week on Broadway in the musical American Idiot.
In 2014, she released the album This Is M.E.. The album cover was a mosaic made of pictures sent in by her fans. She said she wanted to include her fans because they are a huge part of her life and career.
Her more recent albums include MEmphis Rock and Soul (2016), a collection of classic blues songs, and The Medicine Show (2019). In 2021, she released One Way Out, which featured songs she wrote in the 1980s and 1990s but had never released. In 2023, she starred in a one-woman show on Broadway called Melissa Etheridge: My Window.
Personal Life
Etheridge is a strong supporter of rights for gay and lesbian people. She has also been an advocate for environmental issues. For one of her tours, she traveled across the country using biodiesel, a more environmentally friendly fuel.
Etheridge was in a long-term relationship with Julie Cypher. Together, they had two children, a daughter named Bailey and a son named Beckett. The couple separated in 2000.
Later, Etheridge was in a relationship with actress Tammy Lynn Michaels. They had a commitment ceremony in 2003. In 2006, they welcomed twins, a daughter named Johnnie Rose and a son named Miller Steven. Etheridge and Michaels separated in 2010.
In 2014, Etheridge married actress and writer Linda Wallem.
Awards and Honors
Melissa Etheridge has won many awards for her music.
- Two Grammy Awards from 15 nominations.
- An Academy Award for Best Original Song.
- A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which she received in 2011.
- An Honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music.
In 1999, the music channel VH1 named her one of the 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll.
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)
Images for kids
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Etheridge performing live on Broadway, October 10, 2023
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Etheridge performing at a September 2011 ceremony where she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Melissa Etheridge para niños
