Melissa Etheridge brings her "Fearless Love" to The Venue this summer. This openly lesbian musician has won two Grammys and one Academy Award, and has sold more than 27 million albums worldwide. Windy City Times caught up again with the icon.
Windy City Times: Hi, Melissa. I saw your show last year at the Chicago Theatre.
Melissa Melissa Etheridge: Aww. The Chicago Theatre rocks. That is my favorite.
Windy City Times: I have to tell you that a fan brought a big fake window with curtains to that show. It said, "Come to my window, Melissa!"
Melissa Etheridge: [Laughs] You go, girl!
Windy City Times: It blocked some people's view of the show.
Melissa Etheridge: It gets a little obnoxious but, okay, better a window than a door.
Windy City Times: What's the craziest thing a fan has ever asked of you?
Melissa Etheridge: Oh, lord. I can never think of that when someone asks me. I always think of something later. I have been asked to sign body parts. I finally had to stop doing that. It got strange. People can get kind of crazy.
Windy City Times: I asked Dolly Parton that same question and she said someone left a baby for her on doorstep named Jolene.
Melissa Etheridge: Then there is that, no thank you! That's weird.
Windy City Times: You sang on Dolly's tribute album.
Melissa Etheridge: Oh, yeah—I love Dolly. I did a CMT Crossroads with her. You have to check that out. You are going to love it, just look on YouTube. She just rocked my world.
Windy City Times: Tell me about this radio show that I saw on your website.
Melissa Etheridge: I am doing a radio show and I am on Bangor, Maine and Anchorage, Alaska. It is taking over the country right from the top down! I am always looking for ways to reach out, be part of this whole entertainment world and yet not leave my home. That is the plan we are working on. I was approached about doing a radio show. I love to talk. I love to do music and like to be on the radio. So we started it. I am really enjoying it a lot. Hopefully we will get some more stations.
Windy City Times: Fans can listen to it on your website.
Melissa Etheridge: You can listen to it on the Internet at www.melissaetheridge.com .
Windy City Times: Is it a time-consuming thing for you?
Melissa Etheridge: It's not bad. It takes me about two hours a day. It is a music and talk so a lot of music. That's why it only takes me about two hours to record it. The radio stations put in the music that they want.
Windy City Times: Do you have a new single out from Fearless Love?
Melissa Etheridge: No. I wish I did. The album came out last year. You know singles and stuff are funny now. I have a hardcore fan base that really loves the stuff I put out, the new albums, and they come listen to me.
Windy City Times: I heard you are writing new music with your partner, Linda Wallem.
Melissa Etheridge: We are working on a musical. She's a writer and created Nurse Jackie. She's got a really warped head and I love it. We both love musical theatre. We are huge theatre geeks. We love Jesus Christ Superstar and we're both Barbra Streisand fans so we want to create something spectacular. We want to bring the fun back into music theatre.
Windy City Times: Can you tell me anything more about it yet?
Melissa Etheridge: We are not quite ready. We are close and just weeks away from it.
Windy City Times: Well, then I have to call back.
Melissa Etheridge: Well, definitely. I will be talking to you about it…
Windy City Times: You were able to perform on Broadway in Green Day's American Idiot as St. Jimmy this past February.
Melissa Etheridge: Ohhh, yeah—loved that. That was one of the things that really got this going on the front burner because it was one week. I saw how hard those people worked. They do 8 shows a week. It was so much fun. I felt like Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. I was up there on the top and it was awesome.
Windy City Times: You got to pop in for a few days.
Melissa Etheridge: I did eight shows for them filling in for Billy Joel and loved it.
Windy City Times: I haven't seen it yet.
Melissa Etheridge: The story is really light but the music and dancing is great. For me, I like little bit more meat on my story.
Windy City Times: What do you think about gay marriage being passed in New York?
Melissa Etheridge: Yay, New York City! You just can't the genie back in the bottle. We're out and doing it. I don't see any states falling into the ocean but you never know. Who knows in L.A. when we will get it passed?
Windy City Times: California with the biggest gay population... That's weird to me.
Melissa Etheridge: I am shocked. I thought we had gotten through this already.
Windy City Times: Are you going to write another book after your autobiography, The Truth Is: My Life in Love in Music?
Melissa Etheridge: Someday but I really want to be more involved with my book this time. I had a ghostwriter and it was a weird time. I didn't know anything about my first book. I would like to really give it time and go away for those few months and really get into a book. I just have that time right now.
Windy City Times: Your tour is going all over the place.
Melissa Etheridge: Yes, it is kind of an off year so I am doing some casinos and fairs. I am playing at Lansing, Mich., for a music festival there. I am picking up some thing until I get some new music to present.
Windy City Times: With 11 studio albums you are doing pretty well.
Melissa Etheridge: I am doing all right. I do not complain.
Windy City Times: Is there anyone you would like to work with but haven't?
Melissa Etheridge: Oh, yeah, tons of people I would like to sing with. I still have an ongoing dream of Steven Tyler.
Windy City Times: You haven't work with him?
Melissa Etheridge: You would think I would have! I need to.
Windy City Times: We need to find him.
Melissa Etheridge: Yes, we do.
Windy City Times: Do you gamble at the casinos while you are there?
Melissa Etheridge: I am not a crazy gambler. I enjoy some blackjack but mostly when I work these casinos, I just go to bed after the show.
Just climb into her window! Melissa Etheridge will be at The Venue,777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond, Ind., on Friday, July 15. For tickets and information visit www.horseshoehammond.com .
