Melissa Etheridge has collaborated with Chris Stapleton on the emotional track The Other Side Of Blue, taken from her 17th studio album Rise.
The song, released as part of the album in 2026, draws directly from Etheridge’s personal experience of grief following the death of her son Beckett, who died from opioid addiction in 2020 aged 21.
Why Melissa Etheridge chose Chris Stapleton
Etheridge, 64, has said she is selective about collaborations, but made an exception for Stapleton due to his songwriting and voice.
Their creative connection began during a meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, where a personal conversation shaped the direction of the song.
“I talked about my four [kids] and how I have three now, and I said I’d lost one to opioids.
“And he said, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’ And I said, ‘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.’ And that’s the first line of the song, ‘Sometimes I listen when she talks in song.'”
The meaning behind The Other Side Of Blue
The Other Side Of Blue centres on grief, perspective and the idea of finding light after loss.
Etheridge explained that the song’s message is rooted in resilience and growth, even through difficult experiences.
“The chorus is, ‘Sometimes there’s dreams that won’t come true/But it’s brighter on the other side of blue.’
“You’ve got to keep knowing that there’s better coming; this pain or loss is there to learn and grow from, and you’ll be grateful for it someday. That’s what it’s about.”
A personal album shaped by experience
The track appears on Rise, Etheridge’s 17th studio album, which continues her long-standing focus on personal storytelling and lived experience.
The project reflects a broader perspective shaped by decades in music and life, with themes that extend beyond individual loss to wider human struggles.
Reflecting on life and legacy
Etheridge also spoke about how her outlook has evolved, saying age and experience have given her a clearer sense of purpose as an artist.
“I’m 64 now, and I think I’ve lived a lot of life and I’ve seen things come and go.
“I think I can say I have a bit of wisdom now, and I see a lot of the fear and pain that my world is in, and I want to inspire, because I know how much can inspire.”
