Paramount+ has announced an upcoming docuseries, “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken,” set to premiere on July 9, 2024. The series will offer an intimate look into the life and work of Grammy-winning musician and activist Melissa Etheridge, coinciding with her US tour of the same name.
The docuseries is directed by the talented duo of Brian Morrow and Amy Scott, both celebrated for their documentary work. Morrow, a documentary director and producer, is also the creative director and co-owner of Shark Pig, a full-service production company. He received a PGA Award nomination for his work on “Hal,” a film about filmmaker Hal Ashby. Scott, a Los Angeles-based director and editor, specializes in unscripted, authentic storytelling. Her direction of “Sheryl,” a documentary about musician Sheryl Crow, earned a Hollywood Critics Association Award nomination.
“Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken” will explore Etheridge’s life and activism, including her advocacy for gay rights and cannabis legalization, as well as her battle with breast cancer. The series draws inspiration from letters Etheridge received from incarcerated women in her Kansas hometown, which also inspired an original song.
Etheridge’s musical career took off in 1988 with the release of her self-titled debut album, which culminated in a performance at the 1989 Grammy Awards. She has since released numerous critically acclaimed recordings, including “Yes I Am” (1993), featuring hit songs like “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window.” Etheridge won her second Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance for “Come to My Window.” In 1995, she released “Your Little Secret,” her highest-charting album, with the popular single “I Want to Come Over.”
Etheridge’s success continued with her 2021 album, “One Way Out,” a collection of songs written in the ’80s and ’90s that were only recorded recently. The album showcases the heavy blues style that characterized her early career. Beyond music, Etheridge has written a memoir, “Talking to My Angels,” which debuted at #9 on the New York Times Bestseller list. She also created and performed a one-woman show, “My Window – A Journey Through Life,” on Broadway in 2023.
The “I’m Not Broken” tour will see Etheridge perform across venues in the United States, Canada, and Australia from March to August 2024, joined by indie folk rockers The Avett Brothers and fellow ’90s folk singers The Indigo Girls and Jewel.
