Brown reports: She's doing it. Definitely. She thinks.

Melissa

Etheridge has been preparing for years to portray Janis Joplin in a movie on

the singer's life, doing everything from studying Janis to performing

note-perfect renditions of her songs in concert. And now, she said in an

interview, the as-yet-untitled biopic is on for next year.

Odd, since no

studio announcement has come out on it yet. "Well, it hasn't come down yet,''

she admitted. "The movie business is so strange. You deal with them, they deal

with you. I haven't signed on the bottom line yet. But they're spending money

already. They're saying they're doing it. So if they're saying it, then I'm

going to say it.''

For Etheridge fans, it means this tour, which ends Dec.

22 in Los Angeles, is the last chance to see her for a while. The movie is

going to take her off the concert-tour track, as is impending motherhood with

partner Julie Cypher. Recording the soundtrack for the movie will be another

huge task. Etheridge then plans to take some time off to enjoy parenthood. Then

it's another studio album. Then possibly the long-promised live album. And only

then will come the possibility of another tour.

Right now, though, the

looming terror is getting in front of the movie cameras and proving the

naysayers wrong. "I'm completely terrified. That's part of the joy of it,'' she

said. "And it's the cliche of rock stars wanting to act. I've seen many go down

in flames. I've also seen many have respectable careers.

In hopes of

achieving the latter, "I'm studying my brains out, getting all the help I

can,'' she said. With buddies like Brad Pitt it shouldn't be hard picking up

tips. And she's already steeled herself for the critical reaction. "I know the

reviews will be mixed. There'll be those who crucify me and those that'll be

OK,'' she said. "I just hope it brings the story of Janis into the public

consciousness a little better. She's real important to rock 'n' roll."