Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American rock musician.
She was born in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Etheridge has produced seven albums since signing her first major recording contract in 1987. Three of them have gone multi-platinum: Melissa Etheridge (1988), Yes I Am (1994) and Your Little Secret (1996). Two others went platinum and another gold.
She has won the Grammy award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance twice in her career, for the song Ain't It Heavy in 1992 and Come To My Window, arguably her most famous hit, in 1994.
Etheridge is also famous as a gay rights activist, having publicly come out as a lesbian during President Bill Clinton's first inauguration in January 1993.
