After the loss of her son Beckett in May, and taking some much needed time off, Melissa Etheridge has returned to performing live for fans via her newly-launched independent channel, Etheridge TV.
Etheridge, who was giving live performances on her Facebook page over the last few months, returned with her Heal M.E. concert, which was her first for Etheridge TV. Fans can watch the rock star perform live five days a week, as she brings something different to the table each day. On Tuesday, she's covering her favorite songs. On Wednesday, her wife Linda Wallem joins her for a chat and Q&A. Thursday is "Mama's Choice" as Etheridge dives deep into her lengthy catalog of music to jam out. And, on Friday she will share some never-before-seen video footage from rehearsals and early concerts, as well as behind the scenes clips. To top it off, Melissa will perform during a one-hour concert special on Saturday.
Fans can watch every performance each day at 6pm ET/3pm PT by creating a profile on Etheridge TV. Each program is $10, but fans can subscribe for $50 per month, and access all of the performances on demand via the archives.
In a statement, Etheridge says of the launch of Etheridge TV and staying connected with fans, "Staying engaged with my fans during quarantine has been such an amazing experience for me. It has allowed me to heal through my music and performances, and the outpouring of love and response from my community has been so overwhelmingly positive. It makes me incredibly happy knowing that, while we can't be together in person, I'm with my fans five days a week through Etheridge TV."
In addition to Etheridge TV, Melissa also announced the launch of The Etheridge Foundation, through which she hopes to raise money to support healthy new research into the causes and effects of opioid addiction. By partnering and supporting organizations who are exploring underlying mental health issues in conjunction with drug addiction, it is her goal to find ways for people to be able to seek treatment outside of pharmaceutical norms, and bring relief to those who are suffering.
In May, Melissa's son Beckett passed away following his battle with opioid addiction, and she told Robin Robins on Good Morning America of how she's been trying to heal, "Time does heal. It's only been a couple of months, but I've been very busy and made myself very busy. You go one day at a time. You get through the grief and you get to the healing."
She aded, "There's something about singing, something about opening the soul, it's got me through everything. So many people throughout my life said, 'Your music got me through this, your music got me through that.' And I now am using my music to get me through this."
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