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Melissa Etheridge Details Song for Late Son on Kelly Clarkson Show

She presents Rise as a tool for healing after Beckett's 2020 death from opioid addiction.

Overview

  • Etheridge, appearing Wednesday on The Kelly Clarkson Show, described writing I Can't Call You Anymore for her son Beckett and choosing to keep living through her art.
  • She said stopping her life would not honor him, explaining that she aims to move through grief and shame rather than pause her career.
  • The singer shared a lighthearted memory of Beckett telling her at age 11, "Mom, I'm sorry, but I think I'm straight," during a discussion of her song Tomboy.
  • Rise, released in March 2026, also features The Other Side of Blue, a collaboration with country artist Chris Stapleton.
  • Etheridge, a mother of four, has also launched the Etheridge Foundation to support addiction research and family services, reflecting continued work on opioid-related harm.