Fridae

Lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge has announced her engagement to her partner, actress Tammy Lynn Michaels via her publicist, reports E! Online. The pair, who had been dating for nearly two years, plans to tie the knot at the end of this year.

Etheridge's publicist Marcel Pariseau declined to reveal plans for the ceremony except to say it would take place in Los Angeles. After the ceremony, they plan to continue living in Los Angeles, according to Etheridge's spokesman.

"This is the first wedding for both of them," he said.

The 41-year-old, a two-time Grammy-winning singer shares custody of a daughter and a son with former partner Julie Cypher, whom she spent 12 years with. The two made news in early 2000 when they revealed that musician David Crosby was the sperm donor for their children, who were delivered by Cypher. The pair split in September 2000.

Etheridge's life has been an open book since she came out at a gay ball as part of Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. She exorcised the demons of her breakup with Cypher in her 2001 album Skin and later that year disclosed that she'd been sexually abused by her older sister in her book The Truth Is: My Life in Love and Music.

Michaels, 28, is best known for playing high-maintenance princess Nicole Julian on the defunct TV series, Popular. She has also reportedly signed to star in the Jennifer Love Hewitt vehicle Why Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn?, slated for a 2004 release.