Melissa Etheridge, 53, got married over the weekend to her partner of over four years, Nurse Jackie creator Linda Wallem, also 53. Etheridge tweeted the image above along with the message “True love…so blessed. ‘By the power invested in me by the state of California…’ Thanks‘ (I’m sorry to be a stickler, but it should be “vested.”) The two tied the knot at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California on Saturday.
This Etheridge’s second wedding and first legal marriage. She previously had a commitment ceremony with Tammy Lynn Michaels in 2003. (Wallem was a longterm friend of the couple and was reportedly at Etheridge and Michaels’ wedding.)
Etheridge’s 2003 wedding to Michaels took place when same sex marriage was not yet legal in California. (The two were together at the time but did not get legally married in the six month window when gay marriage was legal in 2008, before Prop 8 passed.) Following the Supreme Court overturn of DOMA in 2013, Etheridge and Wallem announced their engagement. Etheridge wrote at the time “I look forward to exercising my American civil liberties” by getting “getting fully, completely and legally married” to “my true love of over three years.”
I’m surprised that Etheridge got married again following her very public drama with ex Tammy Lynn Michaels. The two battled over child and spousal support, with Etheridge sometimes skipping support payments and Michaels complaining that she couldn’t afford to make ends meet on $23k a month in child support. I wonder if Etheridge and Wallem got a prenup.
Anyway congratulations to Etheridge and Wallem! I hope that same sex marriage will soon be legal throughout the US. It should have happened ages ago.
Update: People Magazine has a “5 Things to Know About” article up about Wallem. They confirm that Wallem and Etheridge have been friends for over a decade. They also confirm the National Enquirer’s scoop that Wallem was the best woman at Etheridge’s marriage to Tammy Lynn Michaels.
Photo credit: WENN.com
Ugh she was so awful when she split with her ex.
And how she tried to play the “it wasn’t legal when we got married so I owe you nothing”card to her ex. That wasn’t a slap towards the equal rights marriage fight at all.
I will not be shocked when this falls apart.
+1.
She was totally unapologetic about cheating and wanting Tammy to get nothing.
She pretty much shamed Tammy for being a stay at home mom for their kids.
She was disgusting and I have no idea why anyone would marry her. She treats her exes like garbage
I hated that. HATED that.
I have no respect for her at all.
Tammy gave up her career to raise the kids. I keep hoping for a comeback–she was so awesome in Popular.
Not to mention Tammy nursed Melissa during her cancer. Linda Wallem used to date Sarah Gilbert. Yeah I heard that didn’t end well either. They deserve each other. I’m waiting when this blows up too.
True. I can’t stand her. One hit wonder………
She has a few. “Come to my window” and “I’m the only one” come to mind. I’m sure with some digging more would come up.
Exactly.
wasn’t there another wife before Tammy? two kids, Jerry Garcia was the father? anybody? anybody?
That was her longterm partner, Julie Cypher, but they never married. David Crosby was the donor.
The Jerry Garcia thing is infinitely funnier. I know it’s not true, but I was LMAO.
i got my old rocker sperm donors mixed up
She was with Lou Diamond Phillips ex wife for years, had one or two children with her. They split and she was with Michael’s and had two children with her.
I find it interesting she married her maid of homor from her last marriage.
So do you think they had a “best woman” at this wedding..
Yes, Lou Diamond Phillip’s ex…Julie Cypher. But I think the father was David Crosby of Crosby Stills & Nash.
how many kids does this woman have?
she’s like the female K-Fed.
Julie was married to Lou Diamond Phillips and she left him for her. I think Linda Wallem left Sara Gilbert for her too.
Julie Cypher was reportedly also the inspiration for k.d. lang’s mainstream breakthrough album, “Ingenue”. Their eventual affair apparently broke up Julie and Melissa, as well as that of k.d. and Leisha Hailey, of The L Word.
The lesbian fishing pool seems to be pretty shallow in celebrityville 🙂
She must have a big d!ck.
@ Stef Leppard-LMAO!
Who, Julie?? Ummm…definitely not. These are out lesbians. Dicks are not on their menu.
Some people just shouldn’t get married. ME is one of them. Her breakups are always so ugly and dirty laundry goes flying everywhere. She totally strikes me as one of those women that just can’t be alone no matter what. Best of luck to them; they’re going to need it.
I totally agree. Though, hopefully, since they’ve known each other so long it’s a good foundation. Otherwise it will be ugly bust-up #3. I used to really like ME but not so much after the Tammy Lynn Michaels business and then the comments on Angelina Jolie’s breast removal–especially as Brad Pitt used to be very close to ME and was even rumored as the sperm donor before David Crosby was revealed.
Yeah, it’s all “true love 4-ever” until the break-up with this one.
People who have bad break-ups over and over and over need to look in the mirror. Everyone has maybe one or two bad or at least less-pleasant ruptures, but a history of the really drama-filled ones? Mmm, not a good sign.
She doesn’t have a very good track record in relationships…why does the newest love think she will be any different, and their love will last? I don’t think I could trust someone I saw go through such a contentious separation, etc. (And this is assuming both sides are sharing blame–it still stinks.)
+1
i would say “congrats,” but the way she has acted re her ex and their split, the child support, and all of that, has left a really bad taste in my mouth as far as melissa is concerned.
Exactly.
Cheers, I guess. 🙁 Well, I am a fervent supporter of marriage equality, and that means all people should be equally allowed to form unwise unions. I used to like Melissa before the fallout with Tammy Lynn. No more.
Sorry but I found her conduct during her last break up terrible. Then there’s also the fact that she’s another anti-vaccine idiot. I’ll simply say good luck to her new wife.
Good luck Linda. You’re gonna need it.
The 2 kids with Julie Cypher where from David Crosby of Crosby, Still and Nash he was the donor. It was a huge deal I think on the cover of A mag or 2. I used to really like her but after the whole treating my ex like crap debacle I cannot stand her and her music got sucky as well. Whatever happened to Julie? And why do we never see her with her kids? She has 4 I think.
Didn’t Julie live next door for a time? I think Melissa made a big deal out of their break up because she claimed that Julie said she “wasn’t gay.” or something like that.
I’m sure this time will be totally different…:0
not a fan. she’s a jerk.
*Major side eye on this one*
If the straights can f*ck up marriage, she should be allowed to, as well. And from her track record she’s pretty damn good at it.
I did hate how Tammy was bitching and moaning about not being about to live off of 250,000 a year or something. I do feel like Etheridge saddled her with the kids after she decided that she was done with the friendship, however.
And those unsolicited Angelina Jolie mastectomy comments….argh….
THANK YOU CB. Apparently I’m a stickler too. Before I got to the next line in the paragraph, I had already rolled my eyes, scoffed, and said “It’s VESTED”. You are not alone.
I, too, wish Linda Wallem all the luck in the world. She must love a challenge.
I think Linda is too good for Melissa. Linda sure could do a lot better. Melissa doesn’t look good, acts terribly, and is selfish! She is a terrible role model for her kids and the gay movement!!