Melissa Etheridge is 9 years Cancer-free and still rocking the concert circuit like few others. Her concert in WA last night was electrifying. She held the crowd’s attention while letting them know they were welcome to sing along, if they could keep up. She never missed a step while belting out old favorites as well as newer singles from both ends of the stage. Her twelve-string guitar solo was masterful. After 25 years, she proves she is still very much the entertainer.
If you missed Part 1, click here.
Melissa Etheridge performing at the
Tulalip Amphitheatre
How is your radio show going?
It’s going really well. I have about 25 stations. It is just so much fun to do and I look forward to doing it forever and ever. The show is all about music.
How was it performing on Broadway?
It was such a delight. I am such a huge Broadway fan, of course. I am such a good gay. I love all my musicals and knowing there was a chance to be part of a Rock musical and perform for a week on Broadway was amazing. The community there is just astounding.
Do you have any plans to do it again?
I would like to write a piece for Broadway. I would love to do that. I am actually in the process of writing a piece for about the third or fourth time but it keeps getting moved down the list for other projects.
I saw that you are reading “Game of Thrones.” Have you seen the series? Who is your favorite character?
Yes, I have seen all three seasons and now just reading the books. I love Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons.
You came out about 20 years ago, it was pretty early in your career. How do you feel that has affected or directed your career?
I would not change a thing about it. It was the best thing I did. People ask me if there is a moral obligation to come out. I tell that it is an obligation to yourself. And, I am here to tell you that coming out takes such a load off of your shoulders. It lifts such a huge burden from you. It helps you become a better person , because you are truthful with yourself about who you are. It puts the blame of fear and bigotry on someone else, not you. You don’t have to protect them. This is the world, there are millions of gay people. I just have to say that it is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself.
Is there a message you would like to give to LGBTQ youth, right now?
Oh yes, thank you. You are living in an amazing, wonderful and interesting time. You are coming of age in a world where we are finally understanding that gay is a part of the human fabric. You have a choice, you can believe the fearful things that are thrown at you about yourself or about your life. Or you can believe your feelings and yourself and know what it true. Then, embrace that and know that you can be a beautiful contributing human being. You can be gay and be that. Be yourself and speak true. There is a reason I say that.
Have anything to say about the Anti-Gay laws in Russia and the upcoming Olympics?
Yes, sure. The gay issue is not solely an American issue. You see each country dealing with it in their own ways. There are countries that are so far behind that they are not even dealing with women’s right yet. There are countries like Russia that are hurting economically. They are trying to figure out their identity. Putin is saying let’s look at the things we can clamp down on. We aren’t the West, we have better morals. It is very important that we look at Russia and pay attention. I don’t think boycotting the Olympics by any means would do any good. I think it is time to show up and Russia. Concert in Russia, let’s go.
We are such a finely tuned machine, us gay folks. We have been doing this a long time now. There are wonderful people that are going to help organize the Russian movement. There are gay people everywhere.
I listened to your phone interview with CNN after the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA and Prop 8. I love your quote, “Love is Love and America is beautiful.” It’s been a couple of months, do you have anything to add or say on the subject?
Yes, we all know the direction it is moving, and pretty soon, the people who are in so much fear. The people that come from a place of religious fear and they can’t see that it doesn’t work in America. It is not the way we are built. There is a definite division between Church and State. It may take a long time, 20 years maybe even 30 years, but it is moving in our direction. It is about the Rights of the individual. You can’t regulate morality like that. You can’t go in there and say this is moral and this is not. It is like a big stream that is going to find whichever path it needs to follow.
Do you have any special announcements after the Supreme Court ruling?
Yes, my gal and I are engaged. We are going to get married. We are currently trying to figure out the date. We want to do a honeymoon right after we are married. Between the 4 kids’ schedules and our schedules we have narrowed it down to the next couple of months.
Congrats to Melissa Etheridge on her amazing show and upcoming nuptials!
We love Melissa Etheridge!
Thank you ME you are an inspiration to everyone!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I proposed to my wife at one of your concerts a little over a year ago. We live in Washington State, and at the time I proposed, the law had not been passed by the voters. I proposed anyway, and prayed for the vote. We planned our wedding for June 28th, and we all know that the DOMA ruling came down just before that. We are happily married now, after 7 years. We love your music and see you as often as we can. Congratulations again!! Hope to see you again soon!!
Congratulations on your engagement and your upcoming Nuptials Melissa! 🙂