Photos by Shannon Guest – For more than three decades, Melissa Etheridge has stood as one of the most vital, searing, and uncompromising voices in American rock and roll. Known for her raspy, smoke-and-whiskey vocals, deeply confessional lyrics, and ferocious 12-string acoustic guitar playing, the Kansas-born singer-songwriter blasted into the mainstream with her 1988 self-titled debut and the massive, multi-platinum success of 1993’s Yes I Am. With timeless, Grammy-winning anthems like “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One,” Etheridge didn’t just top the charts—she broke boundaries as an openly queer rock icon, cementing her place in the cultural zeitgeist as a symbol of resilience, authenticity, and raw musical power.
This year, Etheridge is channeling that signature resilience into a triumphant new chapter with the release of her seventeenth studio album, Rise. Co-produced by Shooter Jennings and recorded at Los Angeles’ historic Sunset Studios, the project marks her first album of entirely new, original material in five years. Born from a period of profound personal loss and reflection, Rise is a remarkably hopeful, country-rock and Americana-infused collection that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit. Anchored by the exuberant, life-affirming single “Bein’ Alive” and the deeply moving, cathartic track “Call You,” the record beautifully balances the weight of grief with an unstoppable urge to keep living, loving, and rocking.
To bring this powerful new music to her fans, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee has launched her extensive 2026 global run, appropriately dubbed The Rise Tour. Setting a blistering pace on the road, Etheridge is treating audiences to a masterfully curated live experience that bridges her storied past with her vibrant present. Fans can expect to hear a hefty dose of her career-defining classic hits alongside seven or eight brand-new tracks from Rise. Etheridge’s live shows have always felt like a spiritual communion, and this tour doubles down on that intimacy, turning amphitheaters and concert halls into sacred spaces of shared joy, healing, and classic rock energy.
Adding an extra layer of star power to the summer leg of the tour, Etheridge is hitting the highway for a highly anticipated series of co-headlining dates with fellow music royalty, Wynonna Judd. Kicking off in late June, this powerhouse pairing brings together two of the most distinctive and influential vocalists of their generation for an unforgettable night of genre-blurring rock, country, and soul. Stretching across major outdoor venues—including historic stops like Wolf Trap, Bethel Woods, and The Rady Shell in San Diego—the 2026 tour finds Melissa Etheridge exactly where she belongs: center stage, guitar in hand, proving that her artistic fire burns brighter than ever.
