On Wednesday one of rock’s greatest female icons, Melissa Etheridge, graced H Ric. Luhrs Performing Arts Center.

The two-time Grammy Award winner is best known for her confessional lyrics, pop-based folk rock and raspy, smoky vocals. Etheridge and her band put on a phenomenal holiday concert, where they performed songs from her 2008 holiday album, “A New Thought for Christmas.” She made the Christmas album for people to celebrate with family and have a winter filled with love and peace. Some of the songs she performed from the holiday album included “Merry Christmas Baby,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “O Night Divine.”

Along with the holiday songs Etheridge surprised fans when she performed some of her greatest hits and fan favorites. The song titled “Christmas in America” brought tears and emotion to the audience as she explained how the song catered to soldiers fighting for our freedom while their family anxiously waited for their safe return for the holidays.

The lights and crystals illuminated the stage, adding to Etheridge’s stage presence. As she blessed the stage with her magnificent guitar playing, she also included the audience in her performance. The audience erupted and gathered to the front of the stage as Etheridge performed her Grammy winning songs “Come To My Window” and “Bring Me Some Water.” Fans flashed their lights on their phones and waved glow sticks to light up the room. Her strong vocals throughout the concert proved why she is one of rock’s female icons.

Marissa Jones, a huge fan of Etheridge, sat front and center as she watched one of her favorite artists perform. She loved every bit of the concert and danced in the aisle during every song, wishing the concert never ended.

Another fan, Judy Smith, said she loved how personable Etheridge is and the light she brings when she performs. Jones loved how the rocker opened up talking about how she was diagnosed with cancer and realized that she had to stop feeling sorry for herself and do the things necessary to get healthy. Smith said that helped her in her own personal life to be positive and strong no matter what life throws at her.

To bring the night to a close, Etheridge brought out a huge selfie stick and took a video of screaming and dancing fans announcing that Shippensburg gave her a lot of love during her tenure. The video is posted on her twitter and can be viewed by all.

Etheridge’s performance, jokes, warm stories and love for the Shippensburg community definitely gave the audience their money’s worth. At the end of the show she gave out guitar picks to screaming and dancing fans who kissed them and waived them high in the air.

Shippensburg was Etheridge’s first stop on her Holiday Trio Tour. Her next stop is Manhattan, Kansas.

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