Kansas-born heartland rocker Melissa Etheridge had already spent years playing clubs and coffeehouses before her self-titled 1988 debut. The gutsy singing and confessional songwriting won her a devoted audience, but her fourth album, 1993's Yes I Am, would be her real breakthrough, with platinum sales and three hit singles. Over time Etheridge would share her personal life with her fans, coming out as gay and later going public as a breast-cancer survivor. She continues to release acclaimed albums and has inspired a new generation of female rockers.