Rise, the new Melissa Etheridge album will be released on March 27 via Sun Records. It is her first studio album in five years and includes a duet with Chris Stapleton ("The Other Side of Blue”) - written and co-produced by Etheridge, who worked with Grammy winning producer, Shooter Jennings on the album.
Of working with Etheridge, Shooter said "Getting to work with Melissa was one of the greatest times of my life. From the moment she walked into the studio the first time I met her, she exuded such light and wisdom, I was floored. She’s one of the greatest rock and roll artists of our lifetime and an incredible songwriter as well. Watching her work, wearing her songs, basking in her abilities, was a high mark in my career as musician. Nobody plays a 12-string acoustic like Melissa. The only thing I can say is I am lucky to have had the chance to work with Melissa and her incredible band on this album. Being around her is to be second party to the kind of experience, excellence and musicianship that made the rock and roll heroes of our generation. And Melissa Etheridge is certainly one of those. I had a blast making this album and I can’t wait for the world to hear it."
The new single is “Matches” and has an accompanying music video. Available now across all streaming platforms, “Matches” finds Etheridge reflecting on what first sparked her interest in music - Johnny Cash’s performance at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth in 1970. As she puts it, “I was 8, and a huge Johnny Cash fan. His music really lit my fingers and made me so excited. When I say ‘Mama, let me play with the matches’ I really wanted to play that music.”
In addition to “Matches” and “Don’t You Want A Woman,” Rise features “Call You,” a tribute to Melissa’s son, Beckett. Full track listing is below.
Etheridge's
THE RISE TOUR kicks off in March 26 in Detroit and will travel across the States through early May. Tickets for all dates are on sale now and all tour dates are listed below. She is also scheduled to appear on Talk Shop Live on March 12 to promote the release of RISE. Fans can pre-order and watch the show HERE.
Track listing:
Bein’ Alive
Matches
Rise
Don’t You Want A Woman
Other Side Of Blue
If You Ever Leave Me
Davina
To Be A Woman
Tomboy
Call You
More Love
Tour Dates 2026:
March 26 - Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts - Detroit, MI
March 27 - Venue TBA - Pickering, ON
March 28 - The Vine at Del Lago Resort & Casino - Waterloo, NY
March 31 - Flynn Center for the Performing Arts - Burlington, VT
April 2 - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom - Hampton Beach, NH
April 3 - Stadium Theatre for the Performing Arts - Woonsocket, RI
April 4 - Merrill Auditorium - Portland, ME
April 8 - Plymouth Memorial Hall - Plymouth, MA
April 10 - Bergen Performing Arts Center - Englewood, NJ
April 11 - Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts - Patchogue, NY
April 12 – Bardavon 1869 Opera House - Poughkeepsie, NY
April 14 - The Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT
April 15 - Chevalier Theatre - Medford, MA
April 17 - Count Basie Center for the Arts - Red Bank, NJ
April 18 - XCite Center at Parx Casino - Bensalem, PA
April 19 - The Ramkat - Winston-Salem, NC
April 21 - Harvester Performance Center - Rocky Mount, VA
April 22 - Norton Center for the Arts - Danville, KY
April 24 – Venue TBA - Tulsa, OK
April 26 - ACL Live at The Moody Theater - Austin, TX
May 1 - The Factory - St. Louis, MO
May 2 - Four Winds Casino Resort - Silver Creek Event Center - New Buffalo, MI
May 3 - Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center - Carmel, IN
May 5 - Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead - Munhall, PA
May 6 - Troy Savings Bank Music Hall – Troy, NY
May 8 - Hershey Theatre - Hershey, PA
May 9 - Weldon Mills Theatre - Roanoke Rapids, NC
George Paul
