Tammy Lynn Michaels

Tammy Lynn Michaels is an American actress known for playing Nicole Julian on Popular (1999), Ryan Murphy's satirical teen drama. She began dating rock singer Melissa Etheridge in 2001, the couple holding a commitment ceremony in Malibu in September 2003 and having twins via IVF in October 2006, before separating in April 2010 and finalizing a contentious divorce and custody settlement in 2012. Michaels has been openly lesbian throughout her career, and her high-profile relationship with Etheridge was one of the most visible lesbian celebrity relationships in the US during the early 2000s. She has also written poetry and maintained a public blog during and after the relationship.