The Paramount Theater announces Melissa Etheridge will perform her Spring 2025 Tour live at The Paramount on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show. For several years, her popularity grew around memorable songs such as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs” and “Ain’t It Heavy,” for which she won a Grammy in 1992.
Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, “Yes I Am” (1993). The collection featured the massive hits, “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance. In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, “Your Little Secret,” which was distinguished by the hit single “I Want to Come Over.” Her astounding success that year led to Etheridge receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996.
Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singers for more than 20 years. In February 2007, she celebrated a career milestone with a victory in the “Best Song” category at the Academy Awards for “I Need to Wake Up,” written for the Al Gore documentary on global warming, “An Inconvenient Truth.” As a performer and songwriter, Etheridge has shown herself to be an artist who has never allowed “inconvenient truths” to keep her down. Earlier in her recording career, Etheridge acknowledged her sexual orientation when it was considered less than prudent to do so.
In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, a health battle that, with her typical tenacity, she won. Despite losing her hair from chemotherapy, Etheridge appeared on the 2005 Grammy telecast to sing “Piece of My Heart” in tribute to Janis Joplin. By doing so she gave hope to many women afflicted with the disease.
On October 7, 2016, Etheridge released “Memphis Rock & Soul,” her first album since 2014’s critically lauded “This Is M.E.” Recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis, the album received stellar reviews from the likes of Entertainment Weekly, Parade, Rolling Stone and American Songwriter. She followed up with the release of “The Medicine Show” in April 2019 and “One Way Out” in 2021.
October 2022 saw Etheridge’s return to the theatre with her one woman show, “My Window — A Journey Through Life.” The critically acclaimed, sold-out run premiered at New World Stages on October 13, 2024, and opened at Circle In the Square Theatre on Broadway in September 2023.
2024 brought the release of “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken,” a two-part docuseries (Paramount+) and accompanying live album. Recorded live within the grounds of the Topeka Correctional facility, the album and two-part docuseries follows her journey both penning and performing an original song inspired by her correspondence with residents of the TCF and features raw and rousing versions of specially curated fan favorites and original songs.
Tickets may be reserved online or in person at the Box Office Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and one hour before each event. Tickets may also be purchased by phone during Box Office hours at 434-979-1333.
The Paramount Theater is at 215 E. Main St., Charlottesville.
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Rebecca Barnabi
