Talking to My Angels

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Etheridge (The Truth Is…: My Life in Love and Music) has been living, loving, and singing throughout the highs and lows of her career. In this self-narrated memoir, she reflects on the many challenges of her life—from being sexually abused by a family member to broken relationships, breast cancer, and the untimely death of her son Beckett from opioid addiction. Along with these stories, she treats listeners to songs (some performed here for the first time) inspired by these events, adding beauty to what could otherwise be a difficult listen. She also spends time discussing the difficulty of being a lesbian icon, raising her family in a world that often viewed her with suspicion and hostility. Her narration lets listeners hear her vulnerability and connect with her gritty determination. She shines as she describes her spiritual awakening, which led to her realization that to live fully, one must embrace love and joy as well as pain.