Melissa Etheridge

Melissa is a Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter, CBD advocate, and LGBTQ activist. Born in 1961 in Leavenworth, Kansa, USA, Melissa Lou Etheridge is popular for her raspy-voiced singing, and openness about her sexual orientation. Her music career was started until she was eight when she began playing the guitar, and writing songs when she was 11. Following the tracks of big-time singers Pete Townshend and Bruce Springsteen, Melisa continued to hone her skills through her teenage years. She also attended music school at Berklee College in Boston. She left home for Los Angeles when she was 19, where she played in bars and clubs until Chris Blackwell signed her into a recording contract in 1986. In 1988, her first albumMelissa Etheridgefeaturing the hit single “Bring Me Some Water,” earned her first Grammy Award nomination. Melissa’s success didn’t stop here; in 1989 she released the ‘Brave and Crazy’, and in 1992 ‘Never Enough’, which garnered her a Grammy Award for its single “Ain’t It Heavy.” In late 1993, Melissa released the albumYes I Amwith its hit singles “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” which is another Grammy Award winner. Things took a turn for the worst when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. After undergoing treatment, Melissa made an appearance at the Grammy Award ceremonies in 2005. Although bald due to chemotherapy treatment, Melissa took to the stage to sing a heartfelt rendition of the infamous “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin. In 2006, Etheridge wrote and performed the song “I Need to Wake Up” for the Inconvenient Truth documentary.

Melissa Etheridge as a CBD advocate

Melissa’s battle with breast cancer became the reason why she discovered the world of CBD. She continued to use cannabidiol products to manage gastrointestinal issues that came by after beating cancer. As a result, she bought a 47-acre piece of land in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the area now popularly known as the Ethridge Farm. On top of this, Melissa Etheridge has partnered with the Greenway Compassionate Relief to develop a cannabis-infused wine.