Melissa Etheridge Pictures, Biography, Profile, Facts, Discography, Filmography, more.

Melissa Etheridge became one of the '90s most popular recording artists due to her mixture of confessional lyrics; pop-based folk-rock; and raspy, Janis Joplin / Rod Stewart-esque vocals.

But the road to stardom was not all smooth sailing for Etheridge as she debated behind the scenes whether or not to disclose to the public that she was gay early on in her career. Born May 29, 1961, in Leavenworth, KS, Etheridge first picked up the guitar at the age of eight and began penning her own songs shortly thereafter. Playing in local bands throughout her teens, Etheridge then attended the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. The up-and-coming singer/songwriter and guitarist dropped out after a year before making her way to Los Angeles in the early '80s to give a shot at a career in music. Etheridge's music at this point was slightly more bluesy than her subsequently renowned folk-pop style, as a demo of original compositions caught the attention of Bill Leopold, who signed on as Etheridge's manager. Soon after, steady gigs began coming her way, including a five-night-a-week residency at the Executive Suite in Long Beach, which led to a bidding war between such major record labels as A&M, Capitol, EMI, and Warner Bros., but it was Island Records that Etheridge decided to go with.

Etheridge's first recorded work appeared on the forgotten soundtrack to the Nick Nolte prison movie Weeds before her self-titled debut was issued in 1988. The album quickly drew comparisons to such heavyweights as Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, as it spawned the hit single "Bring Me Some Water" and earned gold certification. In the wake of the album's success, Etheridge performed at the Grammy Awards the following year and contributed vocals to Don Henley's The End of the Innocence. Etheridge managed to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump with 1989's Brave and Crazy, which followed the same musical formula as its predecessor and proved to be another gold-certified success. It would be nearly three years before Etheridge's next studio album appeared, however, and 1992 signaled the arrival of Never Enough, an album that proved to be more musically varied.

But it was Etheridge's fourth release that would prove to be her massive commercial breakthrough. Tired of rumors and questions regarding her sexuality, Etheridge decided to put the speculation to rest once and for all, titling the album Yes I Am. Ex-Police producer Hugh Padgham guided the album, which spawned two major MTV/radio hits with "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window" (the latter of which featured a video with movie actress Juliette Lewis); the album would sell a staggering six million copies in the U.S. during a single-year period and earned a 1995 Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocalist. But subsequent releases failed to match the success of Yes I Am, including 1995's Your Little Secret, 1999's Breakdown, and 2001's Skin, the latter of which dealt with her separation from Julie Cypher. (Cypher had birthed the couple's two children via artificial insemination; CSN&Y's David Crosby was the father). 2002 saw the release of Etheridge's autobiography The Truth Is: My Life in Love and Music, and 2004's Lucky was her celebration of a new romance. Later that same year Etheridge revealed that she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer. But early detection allowed for recovery, and she gave strength to many of those stricken by the disease with a powerful performance of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" at the 47th Annual Grammys, held in February 2005. That September Etheridge released Greatest Hits The Road Less Traveled, a compilation of career highlights and new material. It featured a cover of Tom Petty's "Refugee" as well as "Piece of My Heart" and a new song dedicated to breast cancer survivors

Melissa Etheridge Trivia / Timeline:

She and her girlfriend Tammy Lynn Michaels considers themselves as married since they exchanged vows in a secret ceremony in September 2003. Their marriage is not legally confirmed, because gay weddings are not legally binding in their home state California.

She and Julie Cypher have two children, born to Cypher.

Close friends with Brad Pitt.

Adopted Bailey Jean Cypher and Beckett Cypher.

Announced she is separating from long-time partner Julie Cypher. [19 September 2000]

Publicly revealed that David Crosby is the biological father of her two children with partner Julie Cypher, who gave birth to their children conceived through artificial insemination. [January 2000]

Ex-lover Julie Cypher left Lou Diamond Phillips to be with her.

A close friend of "Brad Pitt" 's, she cast two of his former girlfriends and his ex-wife in her music videos: Juliette Lewis in "Come To My Window", Gwyneth Paltrow in "I Want To Come Over" and Jennifer Aniston in "I Want To Be In Love".

Ranked #49 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll.

Sang at Brad Pitt's and Jennifer Aniston's wedding.

Melissa Etheridge Quotes:

"She has her own opinion. If people want to listen to it, that's fine...I don't believe in shutting anybody up." - (2000) about Dr. Laura Schlessinger's views against homosexuality

"Be strong, speak true and spread the peace."

Melissa Etheridge Discography:

Melissa Etheridge: The Rhapsody Interview ....oct 2005

Melissa Etheridge - 97.7 HTZ-FM

Melissa Etheridge - Brave and Crazy

Melissa Etheridge - Breakdown

Melissa Etheridge - Breakdown (+1 Bonus Track)

Melissa Etheridge - Breakdown: Limited Edition

Melissa Etheridge - Come to My Window

Various Artists, Melissa Etheridge, Tori Amos - Crossroads

Melissa Etheridge - Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled

Melissa Etheridge - I Want to Be in Love

Melissa Etheridge - I'm the Only One

Melissa Etheridge - If I Wanted to

Travis Tritt, Dwight Yoakam, The Mavericks, Aaron Neville, Melissa Etheridge, Chris Isaak, Carl Perkins, Tony Bennett, NRBQ, Marty Stuart - It's Now or Never - The Tribute to Elvis Presley

Melissa Etheridge - Lucky

Melissa Etheridge - Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge - Melissa Etheridge (2 CD Deluxe Edition)

Melissa Etheridge - Never Enough

Various Artists, Melissa Etheridge, Blues Traveler, Cardigans, 311 - Over the Edge

Melissa Etheridge, Melissa Etheridge - Skin

Melissa Etheridge - Yes I Am

Melissa Etheridge - Your Little Secret

Melissa Etheridge Filmography:

As Actress:

Intimate Portrait: Jennie Garth (2002) (TV) .... Host

The Sissy Duckling (1999) (TV) (voice) .... Elmer's mother

Teresa's Tattoo (1994) .... Hooker

As Composer:

Money Train (1995)

Teresa's Tattoo (1994) (songs)

It Was a Wonderful Life (1993)

Where the Day Takes You (1992) (songs)

Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)

Weeds (1987)