New love for Melissa Etheridge

Following her breakup in April with Tammy Lynn Michaels, her partner of nine years, Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge has taken up with a new love, Linda Wallem, creator of the Showtime series "Nurse Jackie." Wallem served as "best lady" at Etheridge and Michaels' commitment ceremony in 2003.

"Melissa and Linda have been best friends for over 10 years," a friend told People magazine Tuesday. "They got together three months after Melissa and Tammy broke up."

That very public separation was punctuated by Michaels' blog postings, which accused the pop-rock hit-maker of not providing well for the couple's twins, daughter Johnnie Rose and son Miller Steven, 4. Etheridge also has two children from a previous relationship with Julie Cypher, the ex-wife of actor Lou Diamond Phillips.

Etheridge and Wallem, both 49, "are in a committed relationship. They're happy," said People's source. Meanwhile, Etheridge will step in for Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong while he takes a break from his Broadway musical, "American Idiot," The Associated Press reports. Etheridge will play drug dealer "St. Jimmy" from Feb. 1-6. Armstrong, the composer and co-author of the musical, returns Feb. 10.