How Melissa Etheridge turned son's loss into powerful duet

Melissa Etheridge did not accept duets often, however, she made an exception in regards to Chris Stapleton.

In a recent interview, the 64-year-old rocker said that Stapleton was the right man to collaborate with on her 17th studio album Rise, track, The Other Side of Blue.

This was due to the American singer-songwriter and guitarist in terms of his writing, opinion and his voice. 

The song was a representation of her heartbreak as a mother whose son Beckett, who died of opioid addiction in 2020 at the age of 21.

In Nashville, the two met and Etheridge opened up about her children. 

She remembered discussing her four kids and having three of them as she had lost one to opioids.

Stapleton had condolences to make, Etheridge replied, "No, no, no, he was my greatest teacher. I've learned so much from him."

"And Chris looked at me and said, 'Wow, Melissa, you talk in song,'" she recounted, adding, "And that's the first line of the song."

The chorus brought about a message of hope, "Sometimes there's dreams that won't come true / But it's brighter on the other side of blue."

Etheridge explained that old age had brought her more insight into the issues of the world, and she was now using her wisdom to motivate people. 

"You've got to keep knowing that there's better coming, This pain or loss is there to learn and grow from," the two-times Grammy awarded star concluded.