Grammy award winner, singer, musician and songwriter, Melissa Etheridge, was born in Leavenworth May 29, 1961.  She attended David Brewer School which is still located at 17th and Osage Streets.  She graduated in 1979 from Leavenworth High School (LHS), 10th Avenue and Halderman.  Melissa was a member of the first "Power and Life" musical/dance group at LHS which is still active today.

Melissa's childhood home was at 1902 Miami Street.  Melissa's father, John, was a teacher, counselor and athletic director at LHS.  In 1992 Melissa established a performing arts scholarship at LHS in honor of her father.  Melissa has said that her father used to spend his weekends driving her to Kansas City so she could play in bands at nightclubs, as she was underage.

During one of Melissa's visits to Leavenworth in November 1994, she performed a benefit concert for a new park to be built near the high school.  A ball field at the park will be named after her father.  While she was here, she also donated money to help refurbish the Performing Arts Center in Leavenworth at 401 Delaware.   This theater was the former Hollywood movie theater where Melissa used to go to see movies.   The preserved 1938 Art Deco theater now hosts live performances by Leavenworth's River City Community Players. 

In August 2002, Melissa was honored with a "Welcome back" reception and an unveiling of one of the two "Leavenworth, KS, Hometown of Melissa Etheridge" guitar-shaped signs located at the north and south entrances to town on HW 7/73 (4th St.).  Melissa is very proud of her hometown and has many friends in the area which she periodically comes back to visit. 

Melissa's CD, "Breakdown", features a picture of the trophy she won in an Amateur Talent Show at the Leavenworth Plaza on the backside.