Melissa Etheridge caught up with Billboard's Katie Bain at MusiCares Person of the Year 2024.
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00:00 So excited to talk to you because I know you're performing tonight. This is a very exclusive room
00:04 A lot of people would do a lot of things to get inside
00:06 Can you give us a little bit of a hint of what you're gonna be doing for your performance?
00:10 Oh, well, if you remember there was a movie in
00:13 1990 called young guns - and John wrote a song for called blaze of glory and
00:19 I'm gonna sing that one with Larkin Poe Larkin Poe is gonna play a slide and rock guitar
00:26 And we're just gonna have a great time. That's such a steamy epic song. How did that one come to you?
00:31 John asked me to do it. He requested that I do that song. I said yes, sir. What an honor
00:37 What makes John such an icon? Well, he's just rock and roll. He's
00:41 100% through and through he
00:44 Dreamed that 80s rock and roll dream. They lived it
00:47 they wore the clothes and the hair and they went through and then gracefully went into the 90s and kept
00:54 Doing it kept playing live kept playing the songs people love just as has been a real
00:59 Example of how to have longevity in this business. What do you think has been the secret to their longevity?
01:04 their their
01:06 dedication to who they are as musicians not ever trying to
01:10 Get clever and outside of it sticking with what they know what they do and playing for their audience
01:16 You've obviously had a very long career yourself
01:20 The best new artist is a very popular awarded the Grammys
01:24 What would you what advice would you give to any of these young artists that are just starting on this journey?
01:28 Oh, I'd say it's insane
01:30 But if you must do it do what you love do what you love and only do what you love because if you start
01:37 Thinking if other people like you if it's if your happiness depends on if other people like your music
01:44 You're never gonna be happy
01:46 So you gotta love your music first find the people that love your music and know that all music isn't for everybody
01:52 And don't take it personally and just play for who you love and keep doing and keep playing live. That's the key
01:58 I know that you and jewel are co-headlining a tour. How did that come about? Well, it's about time
02:04 you know what I've got a great agency the Washington Agency the fantastic and
02:08 They they put this together. It's come on
02:11 It's 90s, you know 90s songs and and I think there's a lot of people
02:16 From the 90s who remember and want to go see that those concerts and hear those songs and they will
02:21 Okay, last but not least favorite Bon Jovi song
02:24 Living on a prayer
02:27 Yeah.
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