Melissa Etheridge Reaches Deal With Ex-Wife Tammy To Decrease Child Support Payments

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Melissa Etheridge and her ex-wife Tammy Lynn Michaels have reached a deal to cut the singer’s child support payments drastically.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Melisa and her ex-wife hashed out an amended divorce settlement which modified the amount the singer was paying in support.

Melissa and Tammy Lynn Michael were married in 2003 and divorced in 2010. The breakup was nasty, and they fought in court for years. Two years after the divorce was filed the two were able to reach a settlement.

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Per their original settlement, Melissa paid Tammy $13,000 a month in spousal support and another $10,000 in child support. The two shared joint custody of their twins Johnnie and Miller. Tammy also received 50% royalties from the album, The Awakening along with 50% cut of several of Melissa’s songs. Melissa was awarded her properties in Springdale, Arizona and Hidden Hills, California along with a home in Arkansas.

At the time of the settlement, Melissa was reportedly pulling in around $177,000 a month.

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Per their new deal, Melissa will only pay Tammy $10,000 a month in child support. The two agree to split other childhood expenses including health care. Tammy agreed to forgive any royalty payment arrearages and related penalties from the time period of April to June, 2020. They agreed Melissa owes Tammy child support arrears in the amount of $3,500 which will be paid off with a payment plan.

Based on the amended agreement, it appears Tammy no longer will receive $2,000 a month from Melissa’s royalties. Instead, Melissa agreed to reduce a $180,000 loan owed by Tammy down to $95,000.

The deal says if Tammy tries to modify the deal then the terms of the agreement will be void. The two being able to work out an amended settlement without issues is good given their rocky past.

Melissa recently lost her 21-year-old son from a previous relationship.