Melissa Etheridge's Janis Joplin Journey

0:00It's April 30th, I'm Cory with The Story, and this is Entertainment and Celebrity News today. Your AI-powered Entertainment Report. Melissa Etheridge once lit up cigarettes to prep for a Janice Joplin biopic role back in the 1990s. She figured Joplin was a heavy smoker, so Etheridge started with just one a day at night to look authentic on screen. She quickly felt that pulled the next morning, craving another to shake off the fog. That moment hit her heart, it showed how addiction sneaks in, and she credits myfulness for breaking free. The project, called Piece of My Heart, dragged on for years with Director Gary Fletter attached at one point, but it got shelved. Other stars like Renee Zellweger and Brittany Murphy circled the role over time. Fast forward, Shea-Leen Woodley is now leading a new Joplin film called Janice Joplin, get it while you can, still in development after years. Etheridge dropped her fresh album rise, channeling desire, heartbreak, and loss. At 64, she's all about sharing wisdom to spark hope in tough times.