Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for her distinctive raspy voice and emotionally charged lyrics. She was born on May 29, 1961, in Leavenworth, Kansas. She made her recording debut in 1988 and soon gained recognition with successful albums such as "Yes I Am," which includes the hits "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window." Etheridge has won several Grammy Awards and in 2007 was honored with an Oscar for the song "I Need to Wake Up" from the film "An Inconvenient Truth." Her public acknowledgment as a lesbian in 1993 made her a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community.