Melissa Etheridge – Cancer Changed Etheridge’s Outlook
Melissa Etheridge has been a force in the music industry for years because of her mix of pop, folk and rock, but her influence extends far beyond her music. Etheridge has long been a proponent of gay rights as she came out as a lesbian in the 1990s, but her newest drive comes from her battle against breast cancer, which has been her focus since she was diagnosed in 2004. Because of that experience, Etheridge has started working with the Noreen Fraser Foundation, which works to find new prevention methods and non-toxic therapies for women’s cancers. Her experience also changed her view on drug control, as she started taking marijuana for medical reasons during her battle with cancer. She says that during her cancer treatment, the marijuana relieved her nausea and chronic pain, allowing her to feel normal.
Etheridge also said that when she used it for medical reasons, it didn’t make her high. Her experience with the drug has pushed her to fight for the legalization of marijuana. Even with her busy schedule as an activist, Etheridge has found time to tour as well. Fans can see her upcoming concerts by getting Melissa Etheridge tickets online
Melissa Etheridge was born in Kansas and started focusing on music at an early age. That interest was ignited further when she got her first guitar at just eight years old. She eventually chose to get formal training by attending the Berklee College of Music, but it was her time playing in Boston’s clubs that pushed Etheridge to the next level. Her early sound featured a heavier blues influence, which would be downplayed in some of her later work. After moving to Los Angeles in her early twenties, Etheridge got her big break when she caught the attention of a music exec.
Etheridge signed with Island Records and appeared on a soundtrack before dropping her self-titled debut album in 1988. Her style was an instant ear-catcher, and she captured roots-rock perfectly with hints of influences like Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp. She also wasn’t afraid to tackle the intricacies and complications of life and love in her songwriting. The album introduced Etheridge as a person to watch in the music industry. Like her early reputation suggested, the best was yet to come from Etheridge.
She had another similarly-flavored release in 1989 with Brave and Crazy. She followed with Never Enough in 1992, and the wait for fans was well worth it. The release of her successful follow-up album, Yes I Am, spurred even more interest as it coincided with Etheridge coming out as a lesbian. She was revolutionary in the music industry and her next album, Your Little Secret, kept her in the mainstream spotlight and high on the charts. In 1997, Etheridge’s partner, Julie Cypher, had the couple’s first child, a daughter. Cypher and Etheridge had a son in 1998, but broke up in 2000. A few years later, Etheridge started a relationship with actress Tammy Lynn Michaels. After Etheridge overcame her cancer, Michaels gave birth to twins. Etheridge’s most recent release is a holiday album from 2008.
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