Grammy Award-winning musician Melissa Etheridge is set to appear in a two-part documentary series, “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken,” which will premiere on Paramount+ later this year. The series will focus on Etheridge’s connection with five incarcerated women from the Topeka Correctional Facility in Kansas and her efforts to understand and interrupt the cycle of addiction.
Etheridge, who lost her son Beckett Cypher to the opioid crisis in 2020, has penned an original song inspired by letters from the inmates, who are behind bars for substance abuse-related issues. In her own words, Etheridge says, “I’m excited for audiences to join me on this powerful journey and hear these remarkable stories filled with pain and struggle but also hope and healing. I hope that this docuseries shows viewers the challenges that women face in our prison system while also serving as a resource to those who are currently struggling.”
The series will explore themes of female incarceration, redemption, substance abuse, generational trauma, grief, and healing. It will showcase Etheridge’s bond with the women through music, serving as an act of empathy, understanding, and hope.
“Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken” is directed by Brian Morrow and Amy Scott and produced by Jonathan Lynch for Shark Pig Studios. Executive producers include Kathy Rivkin Daum and William Kennedy for BMG Films, Deb Klein for Primary Wave Music, Bruce Gillmer and Michael Maniaci for MTV Entertainment Studios, and Melissa Etheridge.
In addition to the docuseries, Etheridge will be presenting at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, airing live on CBS on Sunday, April 7, and streaming on Paramount+ for subscribers with the Showtime plan.
