Rock legend John Mellencamp has delivered a heartbreaking update on his daughter's health, revealing she is "really sick" and suffering after a devastating cancer setback.
Alarming Update on Stage 4 Diagnosis
Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast this week, the 74-year-old "Jack & Diane" singer shared that his daughter, former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp, 44, is battling cancer in her brain. "It's not f***ing fun," John stated bluntly. "She's got cancer in the brain, and she's suffering right now."
This news comes as a severe blow following Teddi's own announcement in October last year, where she told fans she had "no detectable cancer." She shared that optimistic news during an appearance on the Two T's in a Pod podcast with Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania.
A Rollercoaster Battle with Melanoma
Teddi's health journey has been fraught with challenges. She was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2022. The disease advanced to stage four in February 2025, metastasising to her lungs and brain, which led to major surgery to remove four tumours.
Despite last autumn's hopeful news, Teddi had been cautious, explaining she would remain on immunotherapy for another year. "I'm still going to be having days when I'm feeling sick," she said at the time. She also clarified she was not considered in remission, noting doctors typically consider that milestone after three years of clear scans.
Living Life Amid Treatment
Throughout her ordeal, Teddi has faced public scrutiny over her personal life choices, including dating and fostering a dog. She defended these decisions on her podcast, citing advice from her doctor. "[My doctor said] 'I really don’t want you to think about your cancer as terminal... You should be going and having fun and trying to laugh,'" she recounted.
John Mellencamp, who was married to Teddi's mother, Victoria Granucci, from 1981 to 1989, has five children. Teddi herself shares three children—daughters Slate, 12, and Dove, 11, and son Cruz, 5—with her estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave.
The latest revelation underscores the unpredictable and brutal nature of stage four cancer, leaving fans and well-wishers hoping for strength for the Mellencamp family during this incredibly difficult time.
