Melissa Etheridge says interview changed her partner to “boyfriend” before she came out

Melissa Etheridge says she once felt “horrified” when a magazine changed details about her personal life before she had publicly come out as a lesbian.

Speaking on the April 29 episode of Artist Friendly with host Joel Madden, the 64-year-old singer described an early interview where a journalist changed the gender of her partner. She said the writer replaced her words with references to a “boyfriend,” which upset her.

At the time, Etheridge had not publicly shared her sexuality, though she felt there was an unspoken understanding with fans. She recalled that many women in her audience connected strongly with her performances, and she sensed they understood who she was.

She said she began thinking more seriously about coming out around her third album, Never Enough, when alternative and grunge styles were becoming popular. She felt the cultural moment might make it easier to be open.

However, after the magazine incident, she became concerned that people—especially within the gay community—might think she had chosen to hide her identity.

Etheridge initially planned to come out on The Arsenio Hall Show, but her plans changed when she became involved in Bill Clinton and Al Gore’s 1992 presidential campaign. Instead, she publicly came out at Clinton’s inauguration in 1993.

In a 2023 interview, Etheridge also spoke about pressure from the music industry early in her career. She said some people suggested managing or hiding her sexuality for public image reasons, including pretending to have a male partner. She refused.

“I’m going to be me,” she said.

Etheridge later became one of the most visible LGBTQ+ artists in music. Her song “I’m the Only One” was a major hit, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995.