Melissa Etheridge says she is “still finding kids from David Crosby out in the world”
In the 1990s, David Crosby supported Melissa Etheridge and her partner Julie Cypher, who happily stepped in as their sperm donor at their request. After recently opening up about the decision, Etheridge revealed she is still discovering other children created with Crosby’s donation.
Discussing her decision in a new interview ahead of her forthcoming Paramount+ docuseries Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken, Etheridge opened up about Crosby’s donation, praising his openness and willingness to help them during such a pivotal moment in their lives, resulting in the birth of their daughter Bailey and son Beckett.
According to Etheridge, Crosby had been suggested to Etheridge by the musician’s wife, Jan Dance, who “wanted to pay it forward” after just having received help “having their son and they appreciated that,” Etheridge told People. She also admitted: “We’re still finding kids from David Crosby out in the world. My daughter’s like, ‘I have another half-sister.'”
It appealed to Etheridge was that Crosby, a known figure of peace and free love, did not feel overly inclined to be emotionally involved in the family and just wanted to allow them to become parents out of pure goodwill.
“He did not need to be [a father],” Etheridge explained. “And that’s what really made it clear for me, was that he was willing to say, ‘Yeah, I was the biological father.’ And my kids call him bio dad, so he’s the biological father, but they didn’t need a relationship with him.”
Etheridge’s daughter Bailey is now 27, and her son, Beckett, sadly passed away from an overdose in 2020. However, Crosby is also the biological father of sons James and Django and daughters Erika and Donovan.
Although it remains unknown which others Crosby donated to, Etheridge and Cypher evidently felt like he had allowed them a miracle and was someone who wanted to extend his support further to other families without the privilege of having biological children.
When Crosby passed away in 2023, Etheridge shared a heartfelt tribute to the musician, explaining that he had given them “the gift of family.”
“I am grieving the loss of my friend, and Bailey’s and Beckett’s biological father, David,” Etheridge wrote on social media. “He gave me the gift of family. I will forever be grateful to him, [son] Django, and [wife] Jan. His music and legacy will inspire many generations to come. A true treasure.”
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