Melissa Etheridge is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist. She has been married twice throughout her life. Her first marriage was to actress Julie Cypher from 1990 to 2000. Her second marriage was to actress Tammy Lynn Michaels from 2003 to 2010. Since 2014, Melissa Etheridge has been married to her current wife Linda Wallem.
Melissa Etheridge’s Early Life and Career
Melissa Etheridge was born on May 29, 1961 in Leavenworth, Kansas. She developed an interest in music from a young age and began playing guitar and writing songs as a teenager. In the 1980s, Etheridge moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. Her self-titled debut album Melissa Etheridge was released in 1988 and established her as a talented new voice in rock music. She achieved mainstream success with her fourth album Yes I Am, which contained the major hits “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One.” Throughout her career, Etheridge has released 13 studio albums and received 2 Grammy awards for her music.
Rise to Fame in the 1990s
In the 1990s, Melissa Etheridge became an iconic figure in the LGBTQ community as one of the first openly gay mainstream rock stars. Her album Yes I Am, released in 1993, featured lyrics about sexual orientation and her personal life. In January 1993, Etheridge came out publicly as a lesbian at one of Bill Clinton’s first inauguration balls. She has been a vocal activist for gay rights over the course of her career.
First Marriage to Julie Cypher
In the late 1980s, Melissa Etheridge began a relationship with actress Julie Cypher. Cypher had roles in several films including The Man Who Loved Women with Burt Reynolds. Etheridge and Cypher began dating in 1988 and their relationship became tabloid news when they appeared together at movie premieres and other high-profile events.
Etheridge and Cypher caused headlines in September 1990 when they announced they were having a baby together. They revealed this would be done through artificial insemination using sperm from an anonymous donor. In February 1991, Etheridge and Cypher welcomed their first child, daughter Bailey Jean.
On September 20, 1990, Etheridge and Cypher held a commitment ceremony to celebrate their relationship. While the ceremony was not legally binding, the couple considered themselves married. They held the ceremony in Los Angeles and exchanged vows in front of around 200 guests. Following their commitment ceremony, mainstream media widely referred to Cypher as Etheridge’s wife.
Motherhood and Activism
In 1997, Etheridge and Cypher had a second child together, son Beckett. Etheridge took a break from the music industry to focus on motherhood and said having children was “the most amazing experience I’ve ever had.” She and Cypher kept the identity of their children’s biological father anonymous.
Etheridge and Cypher were actively involved in causes like environmentalism and gay rights. They were vocal advocates for protecting the environment. They also supported PFLAG, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, an organization that works to support LGBTQ individuals. Their high-profile relationship brought awareness to same-sex couples raising families.
Separation in 2000
After over a decade together, Etheridge and Cypher announced their separation in September 2000. Their split was widely covered in the media given their prominence as a same-sex couple. However, the women explained their breakup was not due to sexual orientation but rather growing apart after many years together.
Etheridge and Cypher stated their commitment to remaining friends and co-parenting their two children together. Their separation was amicable and they continued to jointly attend events like school functions for Bailey and Beckett after the breakup.
Second Marriage to Tammy Lynn Michaels
In 2001, Melissa Etheridge began dating actress and screenwriter Tammy Lynn Michaels. Michaels had a recurring role on the TV show Popular and also appeared on The L Word. Tammy Lynn Michaels was 12 years younger than Etheridge.
Etheridge and Michaels held a commitment ceremony in September 2003 after two years of dating. Their wedding was featured on ABC’s show Primetime Thursday. In October 2006, Etheridge and Michaels announced they were expecting twins via an anonymous sperm donor. Tammy Lynn Michaels gave birth to a daughter, Johnnie Rose, and a son, Miller Steven, in 2006.
Domestic Partnership
Same-sex marriage was not yet legally recognized during Etheridge and Michaels’ partnership. However, in October 2008 they legally registered as domestic partners in the state of California. At the time, this extended certain marital rights to same-sex couples in California under state law.
Proposition 8 banned same-sex marriage in California just a few months after Etheridge and Michaels’ domestic partnership. The couple spoke out against Proposition 8 and advocated for marriage equality. Despite not having access to legal marriage, they considered themselves married and referred to each other as wives.
Bitter Divorce in 2010
After 7 years together, Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels went through a messy separation in April 2010. In contrast to her amicable split from Julie Cypher, Etheridge’s breakup with Michaels turned contentious over finances and custody arrangements.
Michaels filed legal papers seeking spousal support and child custody. She claimed Etheridge had not financially provided for her and the twins during their relationship. Michaels also requested full custody of their children. Their dispute played out publicly with both partners making accusations against the other.
In the end, Etheridge agreed to pay Michaels $13,000 a month in spousal support and joint custody of their twins. Their divorce was finalized in May 2010 after a lengthy court battle. The contentious split was difficult after the couple’s long relationship and starting a family together.
Marriage to Linda Wallem
Melissa Etheridge found love again with TV producer Linda Wallem. Wallem is best known as the co-creator and showrunner of the sitcom Nurse Jackie starring Edie Falco. Melissa Etheridge and Linda Wallem met in 2010 shortly after Etheridge’s split from Michaels.
Wedding After DOMA Overturn
Etheridge and Wallem got engaged in May 2013 after three years of dating. They began planning a wedding following the June 2013 Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Defense of Marriage Act. This ruling opened the door for federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
On May 31, 2014, Melissa Etheridge and Linda Wallem legally married in San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. The wedding date marked the three year anniversary of the first time Etheridge and Wallem held hands. The ceremony included música aria and was attended by a small group of close family and friends.
Married Life and Touring
Since their 2014 wedding, Melissa Etheridge and Linda Wallem have led a relatively private married life. They reside in California with their dogs. Despite some health issues like a breast cancer diagnosis in 2004, Etheridge continues to tour and record new music. She released her 15th studio album The Medicine Show in 2019.
Linda Wallem has worked behind the scenes on various TV projects over the years. She and Etheridge sometimes collaborate musically with Wallem contributing vocals on Etheridge’s albums. Together they share a love of music and the arts.
Advocating for Social Causes
Etheridge and Wallem have advocated for LGBTQ rights and Marriage Equality over the years. They have also been outspoken about the dangers of climate change. As committed vegetarians, they work to promote environmental causes and ethical treatment of animals.
In addition to activism, the couple’s charity work includes fundraising concerts for organizations like Oceana. Etheridge and Wallem balance creative careers in show business with a dedication to social justice issues.
Summary of Melissa Etheridge’s Wives
Melissa Etheridge has been married three times:
- Julie Cypher – Married 1990 to 2000 (separated)
- Tammy Lynn Michaels – Married 2003 to 2010 (divorced)
- Linda Wallem – Married 2014 to present
Her early marriage to Julie Cypher gained significant media attention as one of the first openly gay celebrity couples in the 1990s. Tammy Lynn Michaels was her second long-term partner with whom she had twins. Since 2014, Melissa Etheridge has been happily married to TV producer Linda Wallem.
Key Facts About Melissa Etheridge’s Marriages
Wife | Married | Children | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Julie Cypher | 1990 – 2000 | Daughter Bailey Jean (born 1991) Son Beckett (born 1997) |
Amicable separation in 2000 after 11 years together |
Tammy Lynn Michaels | 2003 – 2010 | Daughter Johnnie Rose (born 2006) Son Miller Steven (born 2006) |
Bitter divorce finalized in 2010 due to disputes over finances and custody |
Linda Wallem | 2014 – Present | None | Married in 2014 after same-sex marriage became legal in California |
Conclusion
Throughout her personal life, Melissa Etheridge’s relationships garnered significant media attention as examples of openly gay couples starting families together. Her first marriage to Julie Cypher in the 1990s was groundbreaking for same-sex marriage visibility. Etheridge’s current marriage to Linda Wallem came after turbulent divorces from both Cypher and Tammy Lynn Michaels.
Now age 62, Etheridge is enjoying a solid marriage to Wallem and continuing her music career as an iconic gay rights activist. She overcome health issues like breast cancer to make new music into her 60s. With her wife Linda Wallem supporting her personally, Melissa Etheridge remains musically and politically active today.