Melissa Etheridge Prepares for Upcoming NJPAC Performance

Grammy Award-winning Melissa Etheridge has been a household name for the last thirty years, but most recently she has released a new album entitled “I’m Not Broken” and executive produced a docuseries of the same name. The album and the series were recorded live at the Topeka Correctional Facility in Kansas as an ode to the strength and perseverance of women. Etheridge isn’t the first singer-songwriter to perform at a prison but this album is in good company with the likes of B.B. King’s “Live in Cook County Jail” and "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison.” As a matter of fact, it was another Johnny Cash performance in her hometown, at the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary, when Etheridge was just nine-years-old that would one day become the seed of inspiration. In advance of Etheridge’s 2025 tour and upcoming performance at NJPAC, Gina was able to steal a few moments of the icon’s time to talk to her about her new favorite song off her latest album, “A Burning Woman,” the progress of the LGBTQ community, the resilience of women, and the message behind her music. Thanks for listening! Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player. The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene. Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox. Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.