Singer, songwriter and musician Melissa Etheridge knows about breast cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease in October 2004 and just four months later, bald from chemo, made a very public return to performing on the stage at the 2005 Grammy Awards. Since then Etheridge has used her talent and her celebrity to raise awareness and money in the fight against the disease.
From her song, "I Run for Life," about her own fight with breast cancer and her determination to overcome it, to her web site's Pink Page, Etheridge is a visible and vocal advocate.
This year Ethridge helped Hard Rock International mark the 10th anniversary of Pinktober, a national breast cancer awareness campaign, by appearing in New York City and Washington DC for special Hard Rock celebrations. Pinktober aims to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and to share the talents and spirit of musical artists. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Delta Airlines are teaming with Hard Rock International.
Etheridge also is involved in UniGlobe Entertainment's Cancer docu-drama 1 a Minute with Olivia Newton-John, Kelly McGillis, Jaclyn Smith and Diahann Carroll.
A long-time gay activist, Etheridge came out publicly as a in January 1993 at the Triangle Ball, a gay/lesbian celebration of President Bill Clinton's first inauguration. Recently she has talked about starting a high-powered lesbian coalition, made up of fellow famous gay rights activists.
Her 2008 CD, A New Thought For Christmas, will be re-launched October 27 as a two-disc set, with a bonus live DVD of Etheridge and her band performing all the songs from the album.
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