Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge - Singer-songwriter, Birthday and Facts

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Melissa Etheridge Biography Stories 

Melissa Etheridge's Personal Details

Melissa Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician and activist

InformationDetail
BirthdayMay 29, 1961
NationalityAmerican
FamousBerklee College Of Music, Guitarists, Pianists, Lyricists & Songwriters, Singers, Singer-songwriter
City/StateKansas
SpousesJulie Cypher, Linda Wallem, Tammy Lynn Michaels
Known asMelissa Lou Etheridge
ChildrensBailey Jean Cypher, Beckett Cypher, Johnnie Rose Etheridge, Miller Steven Etheridge
Universities
  • Berklee College Of Music
  • Berklee College of Music
  • Leavenworth High School
Notable Alumnis
  • Berklee College Of Music
Birth PlaceLeavenworth
Height160
GenderFemale
FatherJohn Etheridge
MotherElizabeth Williamson
Net Worth$25 Million as of Apr 23,2017
Sun SignGemini
Born inLeavenworth
Famous asSinger-songwriter

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Melissa Etheridge's photo

Who is Melissa Etheridge?

Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, and a gay and lesbian activist. Born to John Etheridge and Elizabeth Williamson, she grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas. She began playing the guitar at the age of eight. After graduating from high school, she attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. She performed in lesbian bars around Los Angeles, and caught the attention of Island Records chief Chris Blackwell. The following years saw her bring out a line of albums and hit singles. She has won two Grammy awards from fifteen nominations. Her first album, “Melissa Etheridge” contained the single, “Bring Me Some Water” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female as did “Brave and Crazy”. She received her first Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single “Ain’t It Heavy” from her album “Never Enough”. The album “Yes I Am” spawned the hits “Come to My Window” which earned her a second Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female, and “I’m the Only One”, nominated for Best Rock Song. “Your Little Secret” was moderately successful. Her album “Breakdown” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Her other albums are “Skin”, “Lucky”, “Fearless Love”, and the most recent “4th Street Feeling”.

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Childhood & Early Life

Melissa Lou Etheridge was born on May 29, 1961 to John Etheridge, a psychology teacher at Leavenworth High School, and Elizabeth Williamson, a computer consultant. She had a sister elder to her.

She attended David Brewer School, in Leavenworth, Kansas. She graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1979. She was a member of the first “Power and Life” musical/dance group at high school.

She began playing the guitar at the age of eight, and through her teenage years, played in all-men country music groups. She then moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music.

Career & Later Life

Etheridge performed in lesbian bars around Los Angeles, and was discovered by Island Records chief Chris Blackwell. In 1986, she received a publishing deal to write songs for movies including the movie “Weeds”.

After initial rejections, her self-titled debut album “Melissa Etheridge” was completed in just four days. Her single, “Bring Me Some Water”, was nominated for a Grammy in 1989 for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.

She provided background vocals to Don Henley’s “The End of the Innocence”. Her second album “Brave and Crazy”, released in 1989, won a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.

In 1992, Etheridge established a performing arts scholarship at Leavenworth High School in honor of her father who used to drive her around so she could play in bands.

The success of 1993’s “Yes I Am” improved sales of her previous albums. The album “Melissa Etheridge” earned a RIAA certification of 2× Platinum while “Never Enough” earned a RIAA certification of Platinum.

Her 1995 album “Your Little Secret” was moderately successful. The album produced two Top 40 singles “I Want to Come Over” and “Nowhere to Go”, and earned a RIAA certification of 2× Platinum.

The album “Skin”, dubbed by critics as portrayal of her breakup with partner Julie Cypher, was released in 2001. The single “I Want to Be in Love” was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.

Her eighth album “Lucky” was release in 2004. Though the album did not sell well like “Skin”, it garnered a Grammy nomination for her cover of Greenwheel’s “Breathe” for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo.

In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though bald from chemotherapy, she performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song “Piece of My Heart” at the following year’s Grammy Awards.

Etheridge performed “Imagine That” and “What Happens Tomorrow” from her tenth album “The Awakening”, released in 2007, and “I Need To Wake Up” at the Giants Stadium on the American leg of Live Earth.

In 2010, she debuted her tenth studio album “Fearless Love” produced by John Shanks. She performed her title track “Fearless Love” and “Come to My Window” on “Dancing With the Stars” on ABC.

The biographical album “4th Street Feeling” was released in 2012. The title referred to her hometown's main road. Her upbringing is referred to in many tracks.

Etheridge performed her new song “Uprising of Love” along with a rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in the 2014 New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City’s Times Square.

Major Works

In 1993, she released her album “Yes I Am”. Co-produced with Hugh Padgham, it spent 138 weeks on Billboard 200 charts, and spawned the hits “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One”.

The album “Breakdown” was released in October 1999. It peaked at 12 on the Billboard charts, and spent 18 weeks in the charts. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

Her single “Angels Would Fall” won two Grammy nominations: Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female and Best Rock Song in 2000. A year later, “Enough of Me” was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.

Awards & Achievements

In 1992, Etheridge released her third album “Never Enough”. The album did not do well. However, she received her first Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single “Ain’t It Heavy”.

Etheridge earned her second Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single “Come to My Window”. “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window” were nominated for Best Rock Song.

Her song “I Need to Wake Up” for the film documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2006. It was released on her album, “The Road Less Traveled”.

Personal Life & Legacy

Etheridge had a long-term partnership with Julie Cypher and during this period Cypher gave birth to two children fathered by sperm donor David Crosby. In September 2000, Etheridge and Cypher announced their separation.

From 2002 to 2010, Etheridge had a partnership with Tammy Lynn Michaels, and had a commitment ceremony. They had twins via an anonymous sperm donor. In 2010 they announced that they had separated.

In 2013, she said that she planned to get married to her partner Linda Wallen and they got married on May 31, 2014 in San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.

Trivia

This singer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. She appeared and performed at the 2005 Grammy Awards although bald from chemotherapy. Her performance was lauded in song in India.Arie’s “I Am Not My Hair”.

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Melissa Etheridge's awards

YearNameAward

Academy Awards(Oscars)

2007Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original SongAn Inconvenient Truth (2006)

Melissa Etheridge biography timelines

  • // 29th May 1961
    Melissa Lou Etheridge was born on May 29, 1961 to John Etheridge, a psychology teacher at Leavenworth High School, and Elizabeth Williamson, a computer consultant. She had a sister elder to her.
  • // 1979
    She attended David Brewer School, in Leavenworth, Kansas. She graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1979. She was a member of the first “Power and Life” musical/dance group at high school.
  • // 1986
    Etheridge performed in lesbian bars around Los Angeles, and was discovered by Island Records chief Chris Blackwell. In 1986, she received a publishing deal to write songs for movies including the movie “Weeds”.
  • // 1989
    After initial rejections, her self-titled debut album “Melissa Etheridge” was completed in just four days. Her single, “Bring Me Some Water”, was nominated for a Grammy in 1989 for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.
  • // 1989
    She provided background vocals to Don Henley’s “The End of the Innocence”. Her second album “Brave and Crazy”, released in 1989, won a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.
  • // 1992
    In 1992, Etheridge established a performing arts scholarship at Leavenworth High School in honor of her father who used to drive her around so she could play in bands.
  • // 1992
    In 1992, Etheridge released her third album “Never Enough”. The album did not do well. However, she received her first Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single “Ain’t It Heavy”.
  • // 1993
    The success of 1993’s “Yes I Am” improved sales of her previous albums. The album “Melissa Etheridge” earned a RIAA certification of 2× Platinum while “Never Enough” earned a RIAA certification of Platinum.
  • // 1993
    In 1993, she released her album “Yes I Am”. Co-produced with Hugh Padgham, it spent 138 weeks on Billboard 200 charts, and spawned the hits “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One”.
  • // 1995
    Her 1995 album “Your Little Secret” was moderately successful. The album produced two Top 40 singles “I Want to Come Over” and “Nowhere to Go”, and earned a RIAA certification of 2× Platinum.
  • // Oct 1999
    The album “Breakdown” was released in October 1999. It peaked at 12 on the Billboard charts, and spent 18 weeks in the charts. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.
  • // 2000
    Her single “Angels Would Fall” won two Grammy nominations: Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female and Best Rock Song in 2000. A year later, “Enough of Me” was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.
  • // Sep 2000
    Etheridge had a long-term partnership with Julie Cypher and during this period Cypher gave birth to two children fathered by sperm donor David Crosby. In September 2000, Etheridge and Cypher announced their separation.
  • // 2001
    The album “Skin”, dubbed by critics as portrayal of her breakup with partner Julie Cypher, was released in 2001. The single “I Want to Be in Love” was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.
  • // 2004
    Her eighth album “Lucky” was release in 2004. Though the album did not sell well like “Skin”, it garnered a Grammy nomination for her cover of Greenwheel’s “Breathe” for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo.
  • // 2004 To 2005
    This singer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. She appeared and performed at the 2005 Grammy Awards although bald from chemotherapy. Her performance was lauded in song in India.Arie’s “I Am Not My Hair”.
  • // Oct 2004
    In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though bald from chemotherapy, she performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song “Piece of My Heart” at the following year’s Grammy Awards.
  • // 2006
    Her song “I Need to Wake Up” for the film documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2006. It was released on her album, “The Road Less Traveled”.
  • // 2007
    Etheridge performed “Imagine That” and “What Happens Tomorrow” from her tenth album “The Awakening”, released in 2007, and “I Need To Wake Up” at the Giants Stadium on the American leg of Live Earth.
  • // 2010
    In 2010, she debuted her tenth studio album “Fearless Love” produced by John Shanks. She performed her title track “Fearless Love” and “Come to My Window” on “Dancing With the Stars” on ABC.
  • // 2012
    The biographical album “4th Street Feeling” was released in 2012. The title referred to her hometown's main road. Her upbringing is referred to in many tracks.
  • // 2013 To 31st May 2014
    In 2013, she said that she planned to get married to her partner Linda Wallen and they got married on May 31, 2014 in San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.
  • // 2014
    Etheridge performed her new song “Uprising of Love” along with a rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in the 2014 New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City’s Times Square.

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Melissa Etheridge's FAQ

  • What is Melissa Etheridge birthday?

    Melissa Etheridge was born at 1961-05-29

  • Where is Melissa Etheridge's birth place?

    Melissa Etheridge was born in Leavenworth

  • What is Melissa Etheridge nationalities?

    Melissa Etheridge's nationalities is American

  • Who is Melissa Etheridge spouses?

    Melissa Etheridge's spouses is Julie Cypher, Linda Wallem, Tammy Lynn Michaels

  • Who is Melissa Etheridge childrens?

    Melissa Etheridge's childrens is Bailey Jean Cypher, Beckett Cypher, Johnnie Rose Etheridge, Miller Steven Etheridge

  • What was Melissa Etheridge universities?

    Melissa Etheridge studied at Berklee College Of Music, Berklee College of Music, Leavenworth High School

  • What was Melissa Etheridge notable alumnis?

    Melissa Etheridge's notable alumnis is Berklee College Of Music

  • How tall is Melissa Etheridge?

    Melissa Etheridge's height is 160

  • Who is Melissa Etheridge's father?

    Melissa Etheridge's father is John Etheridge

  • Who is Melissa Etheridge's mother?

    Melissa Etheridge's mother is Elizabeth Williamson

  • What is Melissa Etheridge's sun sign?

    Melissa Etheridge is Gemini

  • How famous is Melissa Etheridge?

    Melissa Etheridge is famouse as Singer-songwriter