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Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist. Her self-titled debut album, released in 1988, become an underground hit, peaking at #22 on the Billboard 200, and garnered Etheridge her first Grammy nomination, Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, for the album's lead single, Bring Me Some Water. In 1993, Etheridge won her first Grammy award for her single, Ain't It Heavy. Later that year, she released what would become her breakthrough album, Yes I Am. The album featured the mainstream rock hits I'm the Only One and Come to My Window, and scored Etheridge her second Grammy award. Yes I Am spent 138 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaked at #15, has a RIAA certification of 6x Platinum, and remains her most successful album to date.
In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge's performance was widely lauded, with India.Arie writing "I Am Not My Hair" about Etheridge. Later that year, Etheridge released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled. The album was a huge success, peaking at #14 on the Billboard 200, and going Gold immediately. Her latest release is 4th Street Feeling.
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