Melissa Etheridge: My Songs 'Aren't Gay Enough' for 'Glee'

By Nicki Gostin Posted May 17th 2010 01:34PM

Melissa Etheridge's eleventh studio album, 'Fearless Love,' is dropping at the same time as she's rebuilding her love life from the ground up. The 48-year-old songstress recently broke up with Tammy Lynn Michaels after nine years and having twins together in 2006. Etheridge spoke extremely candidly to PopEater about the painful timing of the split, the "sexphobia" behind the 'Glee'/Newsweek debacle and the absurdities of being called "too gay" or "not gay enough."

Did you separate from Tammy before writing this album?
It was written before we actually physically separated, but you know, breakups just don't happen overnight.

It must suck having the album and the separation emerge at the same time. Do you wish the timing was different?
[Laughs] Absolutely! When I saw these things were about to collide for a while there I thought, I don't want this to come up on top of the album, and then I started doing interviews and they're like, "You're such a family girl, your marriage is great, what's the key to a great marriage?" and I was like, "Oh, I can't sit here and lie." But I would have definitely made the timing different.

So is the song 'Miss California' about Tammy?
That's a political song. It's about California passing Proposition 8.

Watch the Video for 'Fearless Love' >>

Have you been following the Newsweek controversy?
No I haven't. Give me the scoop!

A Newsweek writer said Sean Hayes was too gay to be in 'Promises Promises.' Kristin Chenoweth wrote a letter in his defense and Ryan Murphy from 'Glee' called for a boycott of the magazine.
Oh, the gays are getting miffed! Don't tell us we're too gay or not or whatever. Oh lord, what is gay, anyway? Find me the line -- find me the defining line between gay and straight. Find me the defining line between male and female. There is no line. You cannot draw this line in the sand. Yes, there are plenty of people way over there who will never partake in anything straight and there are people way over there who will never partake in anything gay, but there's a whole lot of gray in the middle. Where's the line? Behind all of it is sexual insecurity. It's sexphobia.

Have you been accused of not being gay enough?
Oh sure. I've had the gay community say, "Why don't you write a song saying 'her'? Your lyrics are non-gender." They're never happy. And the straight folks, they just assume the lyrics are about a woman, and they assume that if they go to a concert it's going to be all gay people. There are stereotypes we all have. But there's no us and them. Good God, we're all the same.

Have you ever been approached to have your songs on 'Glee?'
No, I don't think they're gay enough. [Laughs]

You're a greenie.
Yup, no plastic bottles in my house. My car runs on bio-diesel, which is reclaimed vegetable oil from restaurants.

Do you compost?
I did for a while, but I was horrible at it. I had rats.

I reckon someone could start a business in LA tending compost heaps.
I can see it! Compost-For-You. Let's do it! I'll invest.

Do you like touring?
Touring is the payoff after all the days of being alone in my room writing these songs. I get to see people singing them. It's wonderful.

You must have tons of groupies.
Well, this will be the first time I'm touring and I'm single. But I am not interested in groupies. I don't need that in my life right now. I have my oldest kids with me on tour -- they're 13 and 11.

How do you embarrass them?
It's funny because they've drawn a line between what I do for a living, getting up there and singing for people. They allow that because they know that's my work, but if I'm standing around at school and I hum or sing something, they're like, "Oh mom, don't!"

I think you are quite the sex symbol.
Aww, you're sweet, and you're helping this gal. Thank you so much.

Aren't you best pals with Brad Pitt?
Not for a while. He's a family man. I haven't spoken to him in a while.

How's your health?
My health is great. I've been six years free of cancer. I figured out health is about balance. It's what you eat, what you feel, how much you sleep. It's really common things that western society doesn't teach us how to do. You've got to take responsibility; you've got to say, "You know what? I don't need to work that hard. I don't have to buy this." It's not what it's all about.

Tags: Melissa Etheridge

Comments

(314)

Monday 17 May

By lightenupwhydoncha

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She was making a joke when she said her songs "weren't gay enough" for Glee. That's what - (laughs) - after the statement meant.

By Bob

Actually Angie, she was being "tongue in cheek" because of the previous question. It wasn't a serious answer which is why they said "she laughed" after she said it.

Saturday 22 May

By Dayna

Seriously, Angie....did you even read the article? What an idiotic post.

By Ali P

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She was joking when she said her music isn't gay enough for Glee. Don't you get it???

By PatB.

I think she was making a joke. :-)

By csi8299

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Well her songs are Gay enough for me; peace & love and STFU !

By acemakr

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I think Melissa Etheridge is amazing, too think having twins with another women !!!! Truly a medical feat beyond no other!

By beth

Yall just need to get a life and let Melissa live hers.She is a wonderful person who I hope to get to meet one day.Melissa u rock and don't let anyone put u down girl..;)

By Vonni

lol its funny but she is just as bad as dude......u have kids and roll out lol damn may be she needs to do like chaz bono and have the operation lol.....im just saying

By AusJen

And Vonni, you are an ignorant moron. You know absolutely nothing about what happened between Melissa and Tammy so please, spare us your idiotic words of "wisdom".

By Bill

vonnie....You lost me there. Just WTF were you talking about, there? lol

By Doris...

Well "Vonni" you sure seem to be the authority on current lesbian culture..... You might wanna do a little "self-inventory" Ya think?

Tuesday 18 May

@AusJen........lol @moron..get a damn life plz!!!!!

By Stef

I agree. You are a moron

By vinnie

I too agree....You are a moron.

By Vickie

I has so much fun dancing with Melissa at an old haunt called "vermie's" in Pasadena...I wish I hadnt had one too many...alas, she will always be "the one that got away" I had a great time that nite Mel.. Waaaaay back when you were still "brave and crazy"..RAWR!

By richard nicoletti

Hey Bob, speaking of tolerance, you don't seem to have any either. People who disagree with the gay lifestyle should be allowed their opinions without being sterotyped.

By Angie

Amen! Say on thing that "offends" them and they attack and start with the childish name calling! We are supposed to be tolerant of their views, but we are "morons" and "homophobes" when we express ours. Hypocrisy!

Sunday 23 May

By Dale

She couldn't have had a wife-she's a girl!! Well at least in a normal world.

By AP

Melissa Etheridge is one hell of a great singer, performer and songwriter, and has put out an amazing volume of great music over the past couple of decades, and is intelligent, outspoken and down-to-earth. She beat breast cancer and is a true legend.
End of story. Some of you folks just need to accept people for what they are, and accept that your opinions won't change that.

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