Melissa Etheridge Talks about the Death of Her Son Who Is ‘Not in Pain Anymore’

• Melissa Etheridge was blessed with four kids but lost one of her sons, Beckett, when he was only 21.
• Beckett is survived by Melissa and her fraternal twins, Miller and Johnie, and daughter, Bailey.
• The singer opened up on how love helped her navigate losing her son at such a young age.

Melissa Etheridge is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, guitarist, and LGBTQ+ activist. Her resilience, authenticity, and artistic prowess saw her excel in her career even as she navigated personal challenges.

Melissa's family has played a central role in her life. The singer has been open about her family life, including her joys and struggles and her dedication to nurturing a loving and supportive home for her kids.

The 62-year-old was blessed with four kids: Beckett Cypher and Bailey Jean, whom she shared with her ex-partner Julie Cypher; and Miller Steven and Johnnie Rose, whom she had with actress Tammy Lynn Michaels.

Bailey was born in 1997 and Beckett in 1998. The pair's biological dad is David Crosby, who died on January 18, 2023. Miller and Johnie, born in 2006, are 16-year-old fraternal twins who were conceived via an anonymous donor.

When promoting her book, she revealed her current mindset regarding the loss of her son.

Unfortunately, Beckett died aged 21 on May 13, 2020, from opioid addiction. The singer was hit with grief and sadness by the passing of her son at such a young age.

Melissa on Losing Her Son Beckett

On May 14, 2020, Melissa shared on X the sad news that her son had passed away and that her family had lost him to opioid addiction. She canceled her "Concerts From Home" show during the pandemic to mourn her son. The singer wrote in an emotional post:

"My son Beckett, who was just 21, struggled to overcome his addiction and finally succumbed to it today. He will be missed by those who loved him, his family and friends. My heart is broken."

Melissa and her family struggled with what else they could have done to help Beckett overcome his addiction. The young man was only 17 when a snowboarding injury led to an opioid addiction. The singer tried to help her son over the years, but she got to a point where she was helpless as she watched him struggle with addiction.

When Melissa announced the loss of her son, her fans mourned with her and sent her love. The singer promised that she would sing again as it had always healed her. True to her word, she returned to holding Concerts From Home" during the pandemic because singing helped her deal with the loss of Beckett.

A few months after Beckett's demise, Melissa opened up on how she coped with the loss on "Today with Hoda & Jenna." She recognized she wasn't alone in her plight; numerous individuals had experienced the loss of their dear ones due to opioid addiction. The singer said she found strength in the love she and her family share:

"It was a long journey, so, you know, in the end, there is a small amount of peace knowing he is not in pain anymore; of course, we miss him."

Melissa, who is married to Lisa Wallem, noted that she, her wife, and her three kids came together and knew that Beckett was with them in spirit. They united and did the things they loved as they cared about each other, taking the loss one day at a time.

The superstar also took up the important role of fighting opioid addiction. She noted that opioid addiction was an epidemic due to the high number of deaths it causes in a year.

What aided Melissa in her healing journey and fight against addiction was the establishment of The Etheridge Foundation, which aspires to take a leading role in initiatives that can assist in dealing with opioid addiction. She described it as:

"A foundation to research alternatives to get off of this track of pharmaceuticals for pain. It is research to understand pain, to understand addiction, and there is many alternatives, there is many people trying things that just understand the mind and the body and addiction."

In September 2023, Melissa released her book "Talking to My Angels." When promoting her book, she revealed her current mindset regarding the loss of her son:

"I can look at my son's death as a great loss, or I can look at it as his time here was a great time of living and learning. He's taught me so much, and I find great comfort in him in the non-physical."

The "It Will Be Me" singer also delved into Beckett's struggles in the book and how she had learned to deal with his death. She realized that coping wasn't something she felt she had to do but something that she wanted to do.

The singer explained her reason for opening up about loss and grief. She wished to share with those who wanted to know about how she navigated her son's passing and how, each day, she maintained a positive perspective as much as it was a challenging process.

Three years after Beckett's death, Melissa spoke to Hoda Kotb on an episode of her "Making Space" podcast about how she is faring. She confessed that when she lost her son, she discovered the depth of her capacity for love. Melissa found the ability to love her son even in his absence, and she embraced this sentiment.

The singer also discovered the importance of self-love, preventing her from succumbing to major depression, guilt, and shame—common emotions among families who have lost loved ones to opioid addiction."The shame is too big," she admitted.

In order to move forward, Melissa had to believe that there was an overflowing of love to everything. Music has also held her together because when she sings and plays, the release feels good. Amidst the pain of grief and loss, Melissa managed to find love in all things and enjoy her career.