This
photo, taken on September 27, 2011, shows singer Melissa Etheridge
posing with her son Beckett during her Walk of Fame ceremony held at the
Hard Rock cafe in Hollywood. Beckett Cypher, the singer's son with
former partner Julie Cypher, died at age 21.
(CNN)Beckett
Cypher, the son of Melissa Etheridge and her former partner Julie
Cypher, has died, a representative for the singer told CNN. He was 21.
The singer mourned her son in a social media post on Wednesday.
"Today
I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones
to opioid addiction," Etheridge wrote on Twitter. "My son Beckett, who
was just 21, struggled to overcome his addiction and finally succumbed
to it today. He will be missed by those who loved him, his family and
friends."
She added: "My heart is broken."
Etheridge
and Cypher, who have been separated for many years, also share a
daughter, Bailey. Both children were conceived using artificial
insemination and a sperm donation from musician David Crosby.
An
earlier post to her social media accounts announced the postponement of
the singer's popular and well-received Concerts from Home series.
Etheridge
has been performing daily musical performances from her home since
stay-at-home orders began being put in place across the country in
mid-March amid the coronavirus pandemic. Her website lists 57 days worth of concerts, which have been broadcast nightly on Facebook Live.
In her post, Etheridge assured, however, "I will sing again, soon. It has always healed me."
Etheridge also has twins with ex-partner Tammy Lynn Michaels, who gave birth in 2006.
Etheridge is now married to television executive Linda Wallem.
"I
am grateful for those who have reached out with condolences and I feel
their love and sincere grief," Etheridge added in her post. "We struggle
with what else we could have done to save him and in the end we know he
is out of the pain now."