Melissa Etheridge at the Democratic National Convention 'On the Record'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This is a rush transcript from "On the Record ," August 27, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Well it's not just politicians and the media here in Denver. The stars are coming out for Obama. Earlier, singer and songwriter Melissa Etheridge went "ON THE RECORD."
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: Hi Melissa. Thank you very much for doing this. Are you excited to be here?
MELISSA ETHERIDGE, SINGER AND SONGWRITER: Oh, I am. It's wonderful. It's different than anything I ever do, so this is great.
VAN SUSTEREN: Well it is not so different you are always out performing. You're in big crowds; people are coming up to you all of the time.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Watch Greta's interview with Melissa Etheridge
ETHERIDGE: Well, this is certainly not about me. This is very much about the Democratic Party.
VAN SUSTEREN: Can I ask? Is there where you started this candidate in the Democratic Party or have you morphed now to Senator Obama?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ETHERIDGE: I have morphed. I'm way left, as everyone might guess. I definitely started with Dennis Kucinich, even though I knew there was not a chance for him to actually become the Party's nominee. I felt it was important to give my support to the candidate that I felt had a vision of the world the way I would like to see us going.
VAN SUSTEREN: So you're going to play and sing tonight?
ETHERIDGE: Yes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: What are you going to play, anything special?
ETHERIDGE: Well, yes. It's not about me so I put together a medley of -- I'm going to start out with "God Bless America." (No Audio)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: I guess we just lost the audio, but you are looking at Melissa Etheridge, one of the many stars that has been here to celebrate the nomination of Senator Barack Obama for President of United States. We also have heard that there were other stars in the crowd. I think Chevy Chase was one who was spotted here.
The people here are so excited, a lot of music, dancing. It really is exciting here in Denver for all of the supporters of Barack Obama.
Of course, we are going to pretty much see the same scene as we travel on Monday to the Republican Convention in St. Paul -- we don't say in Minneapolis. We don't make that mistake. It is in St. Paul, Minnesota is where Senator McCain will be going through the celebration.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Now, we are back to this tape of Melissa Etheridge. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ETHERIDGE: You know what. Yes, when the Christmas season begins, September 30, you know.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: Actually, June 30 and isn't that when Christmas begins?
ETHERIDGE: Yes, I think so, nowadays.
VAN SUSTEREN: The music industry has changed a lot since you started. You have been around the block a little bit.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}I have been a little bit around the block more than you have, I am afraid but not in music.
ETHERIDGE: For 20 years, I have been doing this, and, yes, I remember my first album. I made a record, an actual vinyl record, and by the time that cycle was done, my next albums were CDs, and now, I mean that's going to go by the wayside, pretty soon. And it's just all be on our own personal digital whatevers.
VAN SUSTEREN: Do you have any albums, any vinyls?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ETHERIDGE: No, I kind of gave that up 20 years ago.
VAN SUSTEREN: You do not have a turntable?
ETHERIDGE: No.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: Do you have an iPod?
ETHERIDGE: Oh, yes, I have an iPod? Yes.
VAN SUSTEREN: What is the strangest, weirdest thing on your iPod you think most people would be surprised to hear that you have?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ETHERIDGE: I have some strange things on my iPod. How about Bill Cosby? My kids and I love to listen to Bill Cosby.
VAN SUSTEREN: Now on sort of a different note; I traveled with the First Lady to the Middle East and she was making breast cancer awareness. We traveled all throughout the whole Middle East. You look great.
ETHERIDGE: Yes, I am very healthy. I have had a clean bill of health for over three years now; the three-year mark is always one we try to get pass.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Having changed my lifestyle, having changed the food that I eat and the stress level, I am much healthier actually than I was before the diagnosis.
VAN SUSTEREN: You know, we're actually in so many ways so much lucky in this country in terms of awareness. When we traveled to the Middle East, women had to get permission from their husbands to have mammograms.
ETHERIDGE: Yes, our country, thank goodness, is ahead in a lot of things, and health, especially women's health is one of those. And I appreciate women like you who are really trying to bring that focus to the rest of the world. That is some really good work that you do.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: I guess I should not generalize to say the whole the Middle East; it's Saudi Arabia which has such astounding rules where you have to get permission just to have the mammogram. And if you should need a procedure then you have to get that permission again from your husband or father.
ETHERIDGE: Yes, it is kind of crazy. There're some things that need to be -- women's rights around the world certainly need to be brought up.
VAN SUSTEREN: All right, if it had not been music, and I cannot imagine you doing anything but music, what would have been your secret career? What would you have liked to have done?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ETHERIDGE: I think -- my father was a teacher. And I think the whole idea of getting up in front of people and convey knowledge or wisdom that would be what I would like to do. I would like to teach. Also, I am very interested in politics.
VAN SUSTEREN: As we know. You are here.
ETHERIDGE: I am here. I know I am. I'm here to sing, that I can do.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: We're very excited; everyone is excited, because you are here to sing. Awfully nice to see you and good luck tonight.
Do not get nervous, but I do not believe you. I don't believe for a second that you get nervous.
ETHERIDGE: I do.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: You really get nervous?
ETHERIDGE: Well, nervous and excitement at the same -- it is pretty much the same energy, and so, I am both.
VAN SUSTEREN: Ever get cold feet?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ETHERIDGE: No, no, no. It's like, I love the nervousness. I love to challenge myself.
VAN SUSTEREN: And after the show is over?
ETHERIDGE: Tonight, I am going to listen to the speeches. I have some friends that are delegates, I am going to sit around and listen to the speeches.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}VAN SUSTEREN: All right, well, good. We'll be listening. Nice to see you, thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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