Melissa Etheridge, 63, shares the touching reason she performs in prisons… and it has to do with the late singer Johnny Cash

Melissa Etheridge wants to make a ‘big impact’ like her country idol Johnny Cash.

The 63-year-old Breathe hitmaker, who was last seen on the red carpet, said People who was inspired by the Ring Of Fire singer to give back to the community by performing in prisons, as he did in the 1970s.

“Nobody in Kansas City saw it. I thought, ‘Wow, prisons must be a top-notch entertainment venue.’ And that’s a goal. I’d like to be one someday,” he recalled of his childhood.

Since then, the singer has performed at correctional facilities near her hometown of Leavenworth, most recently at the Topeka Correctional Facility, which is featured in her latest documentary series, Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken.

“I was not afraid of prisons or what happened there,” he said.

“And I always knew I wanted to go back and do that kind of Johnny Cash thing, performing for people who really need it, who probably haven’t had entertainment in months, years, decades, and how healing that can be,” he said.

The Folsom Prison Blues singer notably performed at several prisons, including playing at Leavenworth Prison in 1968 for an audience of 1,200; seen in 1969

“I had no idea what it would be like and it really went beyond what I imagined,” the Kansas musician explained.

The Folsom Prison Blues singer performed at several prisons, including playing at Leavenworth Prison in 1968 for an audience of 1,200.

By KC yesterdayCash recorded and released his live album At Folsom Prison after meeting with prisoners and signing autographs for them.

Etheridge’s Paramount+ documentary series follows the country singer before her performance at the facility and includes clips from her time on stage.

She sang her latest hit I’m Not Broken, which was written in honor of all incarcerated women.

“The prison as a whole was not what I expected. I left with a lot of hope because of the people who run it and because of what they feel for the women who were there,” said the singer.

“From the moment they walk through the door, they’re already working to help them reintegrate into society. It was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot. I can’t wait for the world to see it,” she added.

The star also revealed that she had formed meaningful relationships with some incarcerated women through letters, prior to the show.

In the documentary series, the women spoke about the positive impact the letter exchange had on their lives.

Etheridge’s Paramount+ docuseries follows the country singer leading up to her performance at the facility and includes clips from her time on stage.

“I wasn’t afraid of prisons or what was going on there. So I always knew I wanted to go back and do that kind of Johnny Cash stuff,” he said. Johnny seen in 1994

She sang her latest hit I’m Not Broken, which was written in honor of all incarcerated women.

Yesterday, according to KC, Cash recorded and released his live album at Folsom Prison after meeting with prisoners and signing autographs for them.

The hitmaker hopes the documentary series will encourage others to understand that “people can change and grow.”

According to Etheridge, the prison warden allowed her to perform any song she wanted for as long as she wanted.

The hitmaker hopes the documentary series will encourage others to understand that “people can change and grow.”

He has released 17 studio albums to date.