This is a really juicy piece of gossip when you take it in context. Melissa Etheridge is now dating her ex wife Tammy Lynn Michael’s former best friend, who served as the “best woman” at their commitment ceremony in 2003. (Tammy Lynn and Melissa never legally married when it was possible before Prop 8 passed, but they did have a traditional-type wedding.) We heard all sorts of drama about Melissa and her ex when they broke up last year. Michaels complained on her blog that Etheridge wasn’t providing enough support for her to feed and house their now four year-old twins, and Etheridge’s lawyer countered that his client was providing $2,000 a month and paying all the bills. When you consider how wealthy Melissa is, that really isn’t that much. Last year, Tammy’s lawyer told In Touch that Tammy suspected Melissa was cheating. He said, “There were all the usual signs. Strange comings and goings and lots of days and nights absent.” Now we may know who the other woman is.
[Melissa Etheridge] is “hot and heavy” with Hollywood producer/writer Linda Wallem, the creative force behind the hit cable TV series “Nurse Jackie,” according to an insider.
“Linda has been talking constantly on the set about how she and Melissa are in love and how they’re in a committed relationship,” the insider said.
Melissa and Linda – who are both 49 and were born on the same day, May 29, 1961 – have known each other for years. Linda was the best friend of the singer’s ex partner, Tammy Lynn Michaels, according to one of Tammy’s friends.
When Tammy and Melissa exchanged wedding vows in 2003 in a lavish ceremony at Dick Clark’s Malibu estate, Linda was in the wedding party.
“In lesbian terms, Linda was the ‘best lady,'” the friend said. “Now she’s taken Tammy’s place.”
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, January 24, 2011]
So did Melissa wait until she ended things with Tammy before taking up with their mutual friend? From the way Tammy explained Melissa’s behavior before their split, it’s doubtful.
Meanwhile Melissa’s new girlfriend might create a sitcom in which Melissa will star:
Linda is planning to write a sitcom for Melissa, described as a reverse “Will & Grace,” where the singer would portray a gay teacher living with a straight man.
And the pair want to collaborate on a musical play that Linda is developing.
[From The National Enquirer, print edition]
We haven’t heard much lately about Melissa and Tammy’s court battle for custody and support. It looks like Melissa has moved on while she’s left the mother of her children high and dry.
Melissa Etheridge is shown on 10/6/10. Linda Wallem is shown below on 5/3/10. Credit: WENN.com
Linda Wallem:
Tammy Lynn Michaels and Melissa in 2002 (credit: Fame)
Apparently Melissa Ethridge is the lesbian Lean Rimes, and I think she should be trashed accordingly. Didn’t she steal Lou Diamond Phillips wife as well?
Melissa is a jerk. Just a typical ego manic philandering rock-star. I hope she doesn’t have another set of David Crosby’s kids to ignore.
This is ugly.
I don’t have time for Melissa anymore. She seems to be just another selfish has been.
her shirt is way fugly too
WOOF!
And WOW, is Melissa ever a bitch.
That’ll be one show I won’t be watching.
Melissa proves that men aren’t the only ones who can be heartless pieces of crap.
Shes terrible… And the more I hear her talk in interviews, the more shallow I see she is, well hid behind soulful, powerful voice… She’s horrible
Tammy got left cold and dry BIG TIME. I read about major child support into the 10 and 15K a month for babies from high profile men. So this girl has get by with peanuts.
$2000??? That is NOTHING when compared to how much she makes/is worth. And couldn’t she find someone other than Tammy’s BF? Team Tammy.
you. just. don’t. go. there. I hate this more than I usually hate this kind of betrayal because I love Melissa’s music. Ick, ick, ick. I’m going to have to draw a vail around myself when it comes to my faves, and NOT read anything about their personal lives.
Oh no, she didn’t. What a bitch move.
Melissa Etheridge is officially a douchebag.
looks like Melissa Etheridge is a C-U-Next-Tuesday kind of woman. Lovely, with all of that money and she leaves the mother of her children and the kids with little financial support. Goodness, it is a shame they never actually married, Tammy Lynn could have dragged her butt to court as a married couple(fer realz).
and the best friend needs to be bitch-slapped for the biggest bitch move around.
Another reason why gay couples need to consider legal arrangements before moving in just in case things don’t work out.
Ugh. How tacky.
Now it is time for Tammie to hire one of the best divorce/family law Lawyers in California and get a settlement.
And cut off all contact to Melissa.
Since it is obvious that Melissa has basically left that family/children behind.
Melissa “The Skank” Etheridge truly STANKS!!!
Im hoping her “best friend” is no longer a friend at all…what a bitch
Why does this not surprise me.
Ick, now I feel slimy for being a fan of hers back in the 90’s.
Note to Linda:
It is just a matter of time, They dont change, not even for you.
All this trash talk about Melissa, what about Tammys BEST FRIEND? Talk about a real big bitch. Someone who was there to share the moments, was probably the shoulder she cried on when Melissa was acting different…OMG. I can’t even imagine how horrible that would be.
Ugh. Poor kids.
That is f-cked up!!!! How evil is Melissa? So you break out, probably cheated, hook up with your SO’s bff, then practically leave the ex broke? There is no words…terrible! Poor kids.
Lower than low. Nine+ years of Tammy’s life, seveal of which she loyally devoted to hands-on care for Melissa during her fight with cancer. A TV show for Melissa is ironic as Tammy is the one who’s a gifted actress (“Popular,” from the creator of “Glee” and far superior to it). Team Tammy and hoping for the very best for her and her little ones.
I missed it… at least now she’s with someone whom has a BEAK similar to her own!
BEAK meets BEAK… FUGLY meets FUGLY!!
At least the children have two loving parents and they are staying amicable because of the children. Melissa is hot and is a rockstar. She probably has all sorts of women throwing themselves at her… not that it makes it right, but it is what happened.. divorce happens and there are two sides to every story.. give Melissa the benefit of the doubt, she seems pretty awesome.
that’s horrible. this happened with my x-husband… i thought he was cheating and my best friend said, “oh no, he loves you. he would never do that…”
well, guess who i caught him with?
if it’s true, it’s horrible because tammy’s trust has been violated twice. plus, you need our best friend when your spouse has left.
I’ll take “F*cking Losers” for $300, Alex.
I guess Tammy was not imagining things. I wonder if she knew it was a close friend Melissa was seeing. I also think the thing that may hurt most next to the being-dumped-for-your-best-friend issue is that the new gf is writing a show for Melissa. Tammy was the actor and Melissa was the musician. Now Melissa is even taking that from Tammy.
Melissa Etheridge is a predator who dumps her prey and moves on to her next vicitim.
That is messed up. I can’t even imaging that kind of betrayal. I guess Melissa’s true colors are showing now. The biggest slap in the face in my opinion is that the BF/new lover is now writing a sitcom for Melissa– when Tammy is the one who is an actress and really needs a job! These two are in need of a serious karma bitch slap.
I have no respect for Melissa any longer. She is a dog in the same way that men can be.
On paper, I can see how Melissa and Linda are a better match, but the way Melissa handled the financial aspects of the breakup with Tammy is really off-putting. She was the bread winner, she should support her family in the manner to which they were accustomed. Team Tammy.
She wants to break up and be with someone else, ok. I don’t have any respect for people who cheat in a relationship, though. Get clear of one marriage before you line up the jumpoff.
None of that is as shitty as doing literally the least you are mandated to do for your kids, when you know their other parent isn’t working. If she doesn’t want to support Tammy, too frigging bad. She should have thought of that before leaving a woman who’d been a full-time parent by mutual decision.
Not surprised. After all Melissa broke up Lou Diamond Phillips’ marriage when she glomped on to Julie. Then she left Julie for Tammy. Now Melissa left Tammy for Tammy’s BFF. How crass is that? Once a cheater always a cheater. And $2000 a month child support? That’s crazy. Isn’t there some common-law support even if they weren’t married? Poor kids–first the ones with Julie now the ones with Tammy. And funny thing, it is never Melissa who gives birth or is the primary caregiver.
so disrespectful, in the long run Tammie is better off this way at least she saw Melissa’s true colors, it’s a real shame that kids are involved but I guess when someone is so self invoved like Melissa is that really doesn’t even factor in
I was waiting for this. They way she dumped her and left her confused and hearbroken was so cold and heartless. I knew there was more going on. And $2000 a month? Wow. I really looked up to her. Trash. She can keep her “feel so deeply” music. Team Tammy. Melissa has proven herself to be beyond selfish. Unforgivable for a mother imo.
I guess it’s not just men who are dogs.
Wow. This woman is a real piece of work.
Melissa is worse than an ex husband..cheap and douchy
horrible
I would not be surpised if Melissa and Linda get married and adopt a child together. She seems to like the idea of a spouse and children but when it get boring she moves on to someone new
i like her music but as awoman not so much . this new one butter not have children with her she always seem to say bye after her partner has children , 2000 a month for twins not much in calf .
Fouches..
I used to like her music. But because of the way she has treated Tammy, I’m boycotting her. She’s a sleaze, no respect, nothing is sacred to her, not even her family. So gross.
If I ever came face to face with Melissa Etheridge it would be so difficult not to tell her what a soulless, douchebag, asshole I think she is and also that I can’t even hear any of her songs without wanting to vomit.
I adore her music, but she’s in John Mayer territory now: Talented Douche Bag Land. Yuck.
Ugh! I glad so many ppl are on Team Tammy! I’ve been on her side from the start. It was annoying people were bitching about about her blog — the woman has the right to say her piece after all she’s been through! Her ex is a lying, cheating, manipulative, cheap shrew who through being a bigger star had the media on HER side. Well, now Melissa’s true colors are shown.
I wish Tammy the best of luck!
@Johnny Depp’s Girl: “Fouches..”
lol 🙂
Yep. That’s what you get for giving up
your own life, have kids, support
your s/o through the BreastCancerDrama.
Typical MAN.
I hope Tammy gets back into acting… I loved her on “Popular” (? not sure that was it but she played a great bitchy character).
2,000 a month is nothing! 24,000 a year to raise 2 kids? In CA? And the whole friend thing…wow.
And..Who would even consider watching her in a sitcom? Seriously? ME is not funny in any way shape or form. She’s best friend stealing, wife dumping, whiny singer, cancer chick. That’s a laugh riot waiting to happen.
What?! $2,000 a month is below the federal poverty level for a family of 3. That’s totally insane. Why isn’t she supporting her family? That’s the real crime her. She’s gross!
I find it odd that a “producer/writer” would talk incessantly on the set about how much in love she is. I’m picturing her at Kraft Services table, while going for a donut, telling the lackey who is making sure the table is fully stocked, how in love she is. Because the lackey will care. Oh wait, the lackey’s too busy thinking about his/her own pending divorce and lack of money and how all of it’s going to be tough getting the kids to school and to sports and making sure they’re OK even though the ex is an ass and nowhere to be found … and maybe they WILL have to move home to Mom and Dad’s …
Also, the “Hollywood” gay/lesbian community appears to be quite small because they rarely date outside of their circle.
@ Iggles – right on.
WOW!!!!
WOMEN ARE NO BETTER THAN MEN.
Nasty. Both Melissa & her jump-off.
@ Hautie – Oh, girl, I wish it was that easy. But as my mother told me (and Mama’s a Family Law Para-legal in CA) “Honey, it doesn’t matter to the state of CA if he’s fornicating with his mistress in front of the children; it’s next to impossible to deny him access to the children.” So sad, but alas, so true.
I feel for Tammy – double betrayal!
@ Megalina – Lots of us are supporting our families below the federal poverty level, and no one cares. Sad, but alas, also true.
She’s scum. This woman has no conscience.
When the glow wears off of this new dalliance and when at some point in her life she finds herself alone and vulnerable, I’m sure she will remember Tammy holding her forehead and cleaning up her puke while going through chemo. She will remember the beautiful children she neglected. She will remember all the cruelty she dished out to this poor woman who truly loved her. If Karma exists, she should be afraid-very afraid.
When I think about some of the relationships I passed on because they were friend’s exes, friends I’m no longer in contact with, I’m still not sure if I did the right thing. In life there will always be regrets so I guess we just have to choose the regrets we think we can live with. You have to ask yourself is finding love worth losing a friendship? But cheating on your partner with their best friend is not cool.
asshole
dayum. ME has a bigger d*ck than all of my ex-bfs combined!
Team Tammy totally .. but she had to know this would happen eventually. I mean, we are all thinking about the kids Melissa has with Tammy .. but there are kids she is blowing off from her relationship with Julie. Tammy had to have seen that up close and personal.
Melissa is just .. as “Johnny Depp’s Girl” said aptly .. a Fouche.
I used to like Etheridge’s music..not so much anymore and I definitely won’t be watching ANY thing that she is in.
What a fucking bitch. In the end, it’s the children who suffer the most.
Yeah,who wouldn’t want to kiss that face?
I wonder if Tammy is still scrapping by?
It’s a good thing the has her soundtracks to fall back on cuz she can’t sell anymore.
Just saw Wil’s comment. Team Tammy here too!
Not the first time she has been a female dog.
EDIT: Looking thru the comments, she dumped Tammy for her BFF? Miss Thang is worse than I thought.
After all her sympathy begging for her cancer and this is how she continues to use her life and treat those who helped her through it?
Don’t love Melissa Etheridge, she will hurt you for it.
Heartless, selfish bitch who wants all the help in the world when she’s in trouble and coldly wrecks marriages serially and pummels her exes when she thinks she’s home free.
Heatless beeatch. Oh yeah, and her own and other’s homewrecker.
Dayum,
If, and I read anything contained within the pages of the Nat’l Enquirer with a smidgen of salt, this is true, that is low. Wow, I didn’t know gayelles indulged in such messy liaisons. I just assumed that two women would be much more loyal, civil, in couplings that a man and a woman or two men.
‘Apparently Melissa Ethridge is the lesbian Lean Rimes’
Or the lesbian version of Eddie Cibrian, a serial cheater and likes to get out of child support.
Linda would be LR, bragging about the relationship.
I gave up my job and dropped out of college to have a baby/raise baby my first marriage. As much as I love my kids and my DH now I wouldn’t do it again. Too many things can happen to trust in being dependent on anyone but myself(not just divorce, but layoffs, accidents, death).
It’s easy to side with Tammy… after all, she is the “victim”, not only because Melissa did cheat on her but because she plays it up to higher and higher extremes.
My idea is that Melissa had enough of Tammy’s victim mentality and left her high and dry – and rightfully so.
Some people have low tolerance for pity parties… whether their partner is “the mother of her kids” or the father of her kids…. it just isn’t right to catch a person in a relationship and then turn to your ugly, bitchy self.
OMG… I work on “Nurse Jackie” (it shoots in Astoria so I get to stay in New York when it’s shooting) – MELISSA ETHERIDGE is the woman Linda’s been talking about? Holy shit. I had NO idea!!!! I’d just heard that she was supposedly madly in love with someone – she apparently didn’t name names, though.
There is nothing to really like about Melissa at this point. Bitch.
Woaaah. That Melissa Etheridge is one horrible woman, right? First dodging out on child support and now dating that poor Tammy’s best friend? Unhinged is the word I’d use. Or perhaps c-nt.
2K per month? That’s about what I got on unemployment when I was on it. Even that cheap bastard Hef gives his girls a grand a week. What a cheapskate bitch!
As I always say…. if they cheat WITH YOU, they will cheat ON YOU. Clock is ticking…
Wow, even with paying all of the bills, the 2k doesn’t seem appropriate. The BFF should always be off limits.
If this is true, these 2 probably deserve each other.
Oh & no more children thru your revolving doors Melissa.
Reality check people….Melissa pays ALL the bills for Tammy and the twins along with the 2,000 a month…ALL of them along with a nanny for the kids. She did not cheat on her ex Julie, Julie cheated on her and then told her she was no longer ‘Gay’…Melissa was faithful for that long term relationship. Melissa has always financially supported her sister (who BTW molested her as a child) her sister’s family and also her mom and dad…she does speak true, if you listen. How can so called “fans” turn so easily without even bothering to read the facts that are out there. She tried VERY hard to make it with Tammy, who is known to be a little nutty (devoted and beautiful yes, but high maintenance)…give the woman a break and try to have the respect to at least look at some facts…
…just had to put it out there…
Rosanna, Kristilyn…very good points and I’m glad someone said them, Melissa has brought so much awareness and given so much through her music, performances, and vision to her fans, now the fans read something negative and are so willing to forget all the good. Tammy has gone public with her hurt and lashing out…Melissa has stayed classy for Tammy and the twins’ sake. She has not said anything bad, and you know with how much love she had for Tammy and the twins this was not a decision she made lightly, we don’t know all she went through, but the fans should know her soul by now. When the dust clears…interesting to me how most just jumped ship…YET THEY CONDEMN MELISSA FOR DOING THE SAME THING. Which she certainly did not. Look in the mirror “fans”…
I just gave all my Etheridge cds to Goodwill last week. Glad I did. And btw, I read her book, after I read that thing I totally was turned off by her. She is a pathetic character. I hope this new woman she’s with cheats on her & dumps her for her BF.
Interesting. When Eddie Cibrian cheated on his wife, all the focus has been on Leann Rimes. but when a woman cheats on a her wife, THEN we blame the cheater. Amazing how men get a pass every freakin’ time.
You have got to be either kidding or on ME’s payroll. Tammy was silent until ME began her insane chanting about the breakup being mutual and congenial. Tammy has, for years, maintained a blog on which she posts musings, poetry, and writings about her childhood and the good days when she and ME were together. It was and is her right to post whatever she likes on there, but in fact she rarely posted about the breakup. She could have granted many interviews but has too much class and dignity to do so. She is clearly a warm and loyal person who adored ME and cared for her -literally hands-on – through a horrendous battle with cancer. She bore twins that she also adores and expected to raise with ME. This is a woman you’re calling a high-maintenance diva/bitch?! You three who trash her for no reason and with no justifcation are despicable.
@Kristilyn if Tammy was so high maintenance then Melissa should have dumped her instead of asking her to support her during her breast cancer. And Tammy only lashed out AFTER Melissa commented on the breakup, she wasn’t classy and silent she lied on national TV saying it was a mutual decision then Tammy spoke out and said no I was dumped.
Melissa is a philanderer it’s even worse that she was so vocal on gay marriage but thought so little of her own that she’s allowing her lawyers to give the mother of her children so little support.
@MLN…since it’s a board I couldn’t help but read your comment to Kristilyn. I was not aware Melissa ASKED Tammy to support her through the cancer treatment. Hmmn you apparently have inside info we don’t. :-0…I believe if the situation were reversed AT THAT TIME in their lives Melissa would have done the same. Life happens, things change…I just believe that Melissa put in a lot of years with Julie after Julie stopped “loving” Melissa…and Melissa feels rightly that she learned the lesson not to stay where there was not happiness anymore. It’s not good for anyone when that happens…especially the kids. And, why can’t Tammy get a damn job like anyone else has to when things like this happen? Melissa will always pay support, but with Tammy having a nanny..why shouldn’t she be able to help support her own kids?
When it comes down to it…we really don’t know what is happening, we weren’t there…but I know Melissa’s music and what she has put out there has helped me and many others through some trying times in life…and I just don’t see her as the person she is portrayed as being.
We could all be wrong…who knows?
@Caitlin I am glad that Melissa’s music helped you. Have you ever listened to the music of Led Zeppelin or Rolling Stones? Those musicians wrote & produced some of the most sensitive, beautiful love songs of all time meanwhile the band was filled with the most legendary womanizers of all time. Sensitive lyrics doesn’t equal actual sensitivity.
Melissa didn’t treat Tammy well you may find a way to call how she treated Tammy noble so that you can continue to enjoy her music but simply put she treated her like a disposable piece of garbage.
And if Melissa found herself unhappy after everything they went through and the fact that she did go through a near death experience I would think any reasonable person would try therapy before going off with their spouses’ best friend.
By the way I am perfectly aware of what happened with Melissa’s first wife that really has nothing to do with Tammy. To use the excuse that because Julie didn’t love her she now has an excuse to leave Tammy without giving it a shot is a cop-out. It comes down to Melissa being a narcissist with talent.
And I wonder if she was a man if you would give her the benefit of the doubt.
Geez, this just gets worse…and worse. And I just finished watching The Kids Are All Right, and it warmed my heart with its real, and mature, viewpoint. And then Melissa Etheridge, someone I have loved as a musician and a person — does this crap. Melissa Etheridge is OFF my Christmas Card list! LOL
“It looks like Melissa has moved on while she’s left the mother of her children high and dry.”
I really hope she didn’t. What a horrible thing to do!
Wow Melissa,
Wake up already! Are you that vulnerable and desperate to start dating your EX’s friend? Think back – Didn’t this happen to you already with K.D.Lang and Julie? Different circumstances, yet the outcome will be inevitable. Only Linda will probably bite the dust here. Honey, business and pleasure never mix! Get a grip on reality and keep strumming that guitar of yours. Just try to stay single until the right one comes into play for you! You are way out of key with this current romance! It’s sad but true. Before you know it, Linda will be singing the blues. And you, well you should just keep taking cold showers! For love doesn’t grow on trees!
What everyone is losing focus of is we do not know what goes on behind closed doors. The national enquirer and other tabloids are not the most truthful source of information nor or they the most ethical ( re: whitney houstons casket photo…tacky). This all being said to point fingers and pick sides is not really a good move unless you are priveledged to be in their inner sanctum and behind their closed doors you dont really know what the truth is. Its all hearsay.
All I can say is I hope Tammy moves on with as much dignity as she can find after being hurt so deeply. Julie Cypher Is happily married to a decent person that loves her deeply. Melissa showed her true colors over and over again. I see a dark, lonely, old age life, for her. Her Kids won’t forgive her for refusing decent child support and who could really believe she knows how to really love anyone. Her newest stint of claiming child abuse for an accidental burning of her son, (My SIL did the same thing, her son ran into her and the cig-butt went into his arm, burning him. Made SIL quit the nasty habit of smoking) just puts Melissa in the same nasty mixed bag of say anything… do anything to hurt someone that dared love you!