Hey I'm Brian Hyatt and this is Rolling Stone Music Now.

Today we're going to play a really personal and wide-ranging interview I did with Melissa

Etherich. She talks about her entire career from the very beginning

including the writing of some of her best known songs, the time she spent with Bruce Springsteen,

being in the closet early on, and having almost no one ever ask her about

it, and her very intense and life-changing experience with cannabis.

We also of course talk about the personal tragedy she recently experienced.

Let's get right to that interview.

Melissa, thank you so much for doing this.

My pleasure.

When I listen to your music, when I listen to your voice, when I listen to your songwriting,

I hear a lot of things, but one thing I've always heard is strength.

I think you project that in a million ways.

You have a song called Love Will Will Live on your most recent album.

And it's about a very different kind of trauma, but you know you say I did not shatter,

did not crumble, didn't die, I've chosen to live. I'm no longer down, I have so much stronger now,

I've got so much to give.

And I think you've overcome a lot.

And you know, I wanted to, you know, I wanted to start by offering condolences on a loss I can't even imagine.

Thank you so much.

And I don't know how you're doing all you're doing now in the face of that loss.

And I don't know, and the only reason I would ask

...