Beckett Cypher, Son of Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher, Dead at 21

The music icon says she lost her son to "opioid addiction."

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

May 13 2020 2:47 PM EST

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May 13 2020 6:03 PM EST

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From left: Bailey Cypheridge, Melissa Etheridge, and Beckett Cypher.

Beckett Cypher, the son of Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher, has died at age 21.

Etheridge tweeted the following on Wednesday evening.

\u201chttps://t.co/LZJI8M6m4s\u201d
— Melissa Etheridge (@Melissa Etheridge) 1589417545

Beckett, born November 18, 1998, was one of two children that singer-songwriter Etheridge and filmmaker Cypher had during their relationship. Their daughter, Bailey Cypheridge, was born the preceding year. It was later revealed that musician David Crosby is Beckett and Bailey's biological father.

"The whole idea of having a child has made me much more of an activist, more concerned about the world," Etheridge told The Advocate in 1999. "I mean, I used to be concerned, but it was sort of finite. Now I want the world to be better -- perfect -- because my children are going to be here after me. Things mean more. Things matter."

Etheridge and Julie Cypher ended their relationship in 2000 but continued to co-parent their children. Etheridge also has two children from her relationship with actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, son Miller and daughter Johnnie, who are 13-year-old twins.

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