Duets are super popular in the country music genre. They allow two artists to bring their distinct talents together in inspiring new ways. Remember "You Look Like You Love Me" by Ella Langley and Riley Green? That spectacular duet was about as ideal as they get. Still, Melissa Etheridge is not seemingly a big fan of duets from the standpoint of doing one herself with another singer.
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Nevertheless, Chris "Traveller" Stapleton was one performer Etheridge could not resist pairing with. They teamed up on a poignant and personal track called "The Other Side of Blue." It's a co-write from them on Etheridge's new Rise album. She said per People that his "writing, his view and his voice" finally won her over.
Stapleton and Etheridge Hit It Off
The two met in Nashville and found they had a lot in common. Their collab seemed like a natural pairing. Melissa Etheridge recalled, "I talked about my four [kids] and how I have three now, and I said I'd lost one to opioids. And he said, 'Oh, I'm so sorry.' And I said, 'No, no, no, he was my greatest teacher. I've learned so much from him.' And Chris looked at me and said, 'Wow, Melissa, you talk in song.' And that's the first line of the song, 'Sometimes I listen when she talks in song.'"
Her son, Beckett, was just 21 when he passed away six years ago from opioid addiction, per the outlet.
The Song Grew Out of Her Bereavement Over Her Son's Tragic Death
Etheridge explained the song's meaning for her and for others navigating the same sad path. "The chorus is, 'Sometimes there's dreams that won't come true/But it's brighter on the other side of blue.' You got to keep knowing that there's better coming, this pain or loss is there to learn and grow from, and you'll be grateful for it someday. That's what it's about."
Furthermore, the singer added, "I'm 64 now, and I think I've lived a lot of life and I've seen things come and go. I think I can say I have a bit of wisdom now, and I see a lot of the fear and pain that my world is in, and I want to inspire..."
