Melissa Etheridge: The Fire, The Guitar, and The Rise

In this soulful and inspiring episode of Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas, Grammy-winning rock icon Melissa Etheridge joins Gentry to talk about her Raised on Radio Tour with Wynonna Judd. The tour brings together two powerhouse voices for a night of hits, stories, and the kind of music that shaped generations of radio listeners.
Fans can find tour dates and buy tickets here: Melissa Etheridge Tour 2026

Melissa also talks about her new album, Rise, released through Sun Records. The album features heartfelt, triumphant songs produced by Shooter Jennings and Melissa Etheridge at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, including “Don’t You Want a Woman,” “Bein’ Alive,” “Call You,” and “The Other Side of Blue,” featuring Chris Stapleton.
Fans can shop or stream Rise here: Melissa Etheridge Store

Gentry and Melissa dive into what it means to be raised in the radio era, how radio helped shape her as an artist, and what it’s like touring with Wynonna Judd. Melissa reflects on working with the legendary Sun Records, writing songs with deep emotional weight, and the craft behind performing with feeling, including her method of playing guitar without relying on a metronome.

The conversation also turns personal as Melissa talks about coming out in 1993, what that moment meant at the time, and how honesty, courage, and authenticity have guided her life and music ever since.

From radio roots and raw songwriting to touring, truth, and resilience, this episode is full of heart, wisdom, and the unmistakable voice of Melissa Etheridge.

GO BACKSTAGE WITH GENTRY THOMAS

STEP BEHIND THE SCENES WITH GENTRY THOMAS, WHERE MUSIC LEGENDS, SPORTS ICONS, COMEDIANS, ACTORS, AND HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS SHARE THE STORIES YOU DON’T ALWAYS HEAR.

With his cool, laid-back interview style, Gentry gets his guests to open up about the defining moments of their lives and career, from their biggest failures and toughest setbacks to the hard work, determination, and unexpected breaks that helped them rise to the top.

These aren’t ordinary celebrity interviews. Each episode goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real people behind the fame, the lessons they learned along the way, and the unforgettable stories that happened when the cameras weren’t rolling.

COME FOR THE FAMOUS NAMES. STAY FOR THE STORIES. GO BACKSTAGE WITH GENTRY THOMAS.