Melissa Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist. Her self-titled debut
album was released in 1988 and became an underground hit.
She has been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.
She has received fifteen Grammy Award nominations, winning two, and an Academy Award.
-Wikipedia
Birth Name: Melissa Lou Etheridge
Born: May 29, 1961 (age 63)
From: Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.
Spouse(s): Actress Tammy Lynn Michaels (m. 2003-2010)
Linda Wallem (m. 2014)
Genre(s):
Heartland rock,
folk rock,
blues rock
Instrument(s):
Vocals,
guitar,
piano,
harmonica,
mandolin
Occupation(s):
Singer-songwriter,
musician,
activist
Active From: 1985-present
Awards:
1990
Juno Award for International Entertainer Of The Year
1992
Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for
Ain't It Heavy
1994
Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for
Come To My Window
Quotes:
Don't let anyone tell you that you have to be a certain way. Be unique. Be what you feel.
I'm so close to Heaven, this Hell cannot be mine.
Love is never wrong.
The songs are inspired by my experiences. Sometimes they are more than my real-life and, conversely, my life is more than just my songs.
"Instead of taking five or six of the prescriptions, I decided to go a natural route and smoke marijuana."
"What's happening right now, this month, I check in and go, 'Hey. You are at the top of a wave right now. Look around and enjoy it because it's not going to stay,' ... The wave goes away. It does not dictate how good I am or my worth. It's just the way it happens."
"I've sold my soul for freedom. It's lonely but it's sweet."
"Mothers tell your children 'Be quick, you must be strong. Life is full of wonder and love is never wrong.' Remember how they taught you; how much of it was fear. Refuse to hand it down: The legacy stops here."
There will always be someone else with a different view than you. I appreciate them and would never say that they are wrong. I hope that they would give me that courtesy also.
"I had a lot of self-loathing, ... I've been self-sustained since I was 11. I've always been the one making the money, and to be flat on my back and ... so vulnerable and then be completely loved. To have my wife be there, 110% supportive. To have my children say, 'It's OK, Mom.' To have the people that I work for say, 'It's OK.' To have my fans go, 'It's all right.' It's like, what was I afraid of? I'm going to get healthy now, and I'm not going to carry that baggage anymore."
"To be completely stripped bare of any image power or my hair, ... To step onstage and get the response that I got blew any problems I had about self-image out the door."