The first record that Melissa ever bought was Carole King’s Tapestry. (edit) Melissa won an Oscar in 2007 for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for "I Need to Wake Up" from An Inconvenient Truth. (edit) On October 17 2006, Melissa’s partner, Tammy Lynn Michaels, gave birth to twins Miller Steven and Johnnie Rose. (edit) Melissa and Tammy tied the knot in Malibu in September 2003.
(edit) The father of her twins with partner Tammy Lynn Michaels is an anonymous donor from a bank. (edit) She is expecting twins with partner Tammy Lynn Michaels. (edit) She appeared with David Crosby (the father of her two children with partner Julie Cypher) and family on a Rolling Stone magazine cover.
(edit) She was the first pick to portray '60s rock legend Janis Joplin in a biographical movie. (edit) She performed at the opening of the Democratic National Convention in the year 2000. (edit) Melissa has been active in several humanitarian causes and, in 1998, she and her former partner Julie Cypher received the National Family Civil Rights Award, the first award of its kind.
(edit) In 1996, she won the ASCAP Award for Songwriter of the Year. (edit) In 1995, she sang duet with Bruce Springsteen, performing his song "Thunder Road." (edit) In 1990, she won the Juno Award (Canada's Grammy equivalent) for Best International Artist. (edit) She has won two Grammys. (edit) Melissa had two children, son Beckett and daughter Bailey, with her former partner Julie Cypher. (edit) The male figure mentioned most in Melissa's music is the Devil. (edit) Melissa is listed as the only writer on 58 songs out of the 64 on her six albums. She only co-wrote six songs. (edit) Melissa dedicated the album "Never Enough" "to (her) father with all (her) love". (edit) In the song "Watching You", Melissa refers to old-time movie actor Humphrey Bogart. (edit) Melissa wrote the song "I Run For Life" about her battle with cancer. She is currently cancer-free. (edit) She is a Bruce Springsteen fan and she has performed his song "Thunder Road" during live shows. (edit) Melissa appeared at the 2005 Grammy Awards to perform a cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece Of My Heart." She had lost her hair as a result of chemotherapy, but her voice was as strong as ever. (edit)

Melissa: (on her first concert) I saw the Eagles in Kansas City when I was about 15. My dad drove me and a friend, and he waited while we watched the concert. It was awesome. 'Take It To The Limit' brought the show to a halt. (edit) Melissa: (on the song during her first kiss) ‘Just My Imagination’ by the Temptation. But if you want my real first kiss, my first kiss [with a girl], that was ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ by the Bee Gees. (edit)

Melissa: (about her Oscar statue) This is the only naked man that will ever be in my bedroom. (edit)

Melissa (on her partner, Tammy Lynn Michaels): The love and support of someone like that is worth all the money in the world. (edit)

Melissa: When [the cancer] was over, I came home to a bouquet that said 'In sickness and in health,' and [Tammy] means it. (edit)

Melissa: The songs are inspired by my experiences. Sometimes they are more than my real life, and, conversely, my life is more than just my songs. (edit)

Melissa: I grew up thinking you could do anything, and be anything, because that was the American dream, but because I'm gay... I'm denied that. (edit)

Melissa: As a mother, I have dreamed of a world of pure, simple equality. (edit)

Melissa: I must admit that I have never been so concerned, frightened even, for the future of our community, our nation, and our planet. (edit)