Written by Peter Black
Rise by Melissa Etheridge and released on March 27th, 2026, is an album that feels both fresh and familiar, with the folk-rock style Etheridge is known for on songs like “Bein’ Alive” and “Matches,” and some slower, more vulnerable ballads such as “Rise” and “More Love,” and even a classic honky-tonk jam with “Devina.” This is Etheridge’s first studio album since 2021, her 17th album in total.
If you’re a fan of Melissa’s classic hits, such as “I Wanna Come Over” and “I’m the Only One,” you’ll absolutely adore Rise. Melissa delivers soulful, honest songs that lace together grungy folk-rock and country, showcasing both her maturity as an artist, and her consistency within her niche. She knows what she’s good at, and delivers it expertly.
Rise is an album about overcoming hardship, whether it be grief, as on “The Other Side of Blue” with Chris Stapleton and “Call You,” or the challenges of being a lesbian woman in American society, as on “Don’t You Want A Woman.” “Call You,” was the first song she wrote for the album, and she expresses deep and heartfelt grief over the loss of her son over acoustic guitar and stripped back strings.
She also explores her identity, as on “To Be A Woman” and “Tomboy,” reflecting on her youth and personal experiences in ways that only come with decades of confidence and expression. As seen in Rise, being a woman means bravery in the face of fear, resilience and stubbornness when challenged, and gentleness in love. She describes being a young girl, playing kickball in Red Ball Jets with short hair and an admiration for James Dean on “Tomboy.” Her view of womanhood is free and powerful, confident, and full of joy. Melissa Etheridge has been a vocal advocate of LGBTQ+ groups since her initial rise to popularity in the early 1990s, trailblazing support for her community and raising awareness for the AIDS crisis. Her music comes from a place of sincerity and love for herself and her community, and welcomes listeners to experience her version of womanhood; not an identity of oppression, but rather an identity of love and self-assuredness. To Melissa Etheridge, being a woman is to take up the space she deserves.
She wrote “Don’t You Want A Woman” as a partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League, Kansas City Current, a crunchy, electric country-rock anthem all about being the kind of woman who doesn’t play by the rules, carving out room for herself and breaking down barriers by having fun. This was the lead single for Rise, released in October of 2025. Listeners and sports fans can expect to hear “Don’t You Want A Woman” in promotional content for the Kansas City Current in the upcoming season.
Melissa Etheridge never disappoints her fans, and even amidst the Yes We Are tour with Indigo Girls this past season, she has produced yet another incredible collection of raw and honest songs that demonstrate Etheridge’s strength and joy. Etheridge will be touring with Rise throughout 2026.