John Mellencamp Shares Daughter Teddi’s Cancer Struggles

John Mellencamp has opened up about his daughter Teddi’s ongoing battle with stage 4 cancer, revealing the immense challenges she faces during her treatment. In a recent interview with People, the 74-year-old musician shared that he communicates with Teddi daily, describing her experience as “going through hell” over the past year.

Teddi, a former cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has been diagnosed with ten lesions in her brain. Although these lesions are currently non-cancerous, they significantly affect her cognitive functions due to their location in the frontal lobe. “She has 10 lesions in her brain… even though the lesions are not cancerous right now, they still interrupt her thinking,” Mellencamp stated.

Ongoing Treatment and Support

Despite undergoing successful removal of some lesions, Teddi continues to receive radiation therapy for those that remain. “The lesions are still there, but the cancer’s not,” John explained. He emphasized that while there is no active cancer at this moment, Teddi must persist with treatment for an uncertain duration.

On the podcast “Two Ts in a Pod,” which she co-hosts with Tamra Judge, Teddi confirmed that she would pursue immunotherapy for at least another year, even though she currently has “no detectable cancer.” John recently urged her to relocate from Los Angeles back to Indiana, stating on the Today show, “I’m trying to talk her into it,” but noted that Teddi is resistant to the idea.

During his appearance on the Today show, John provided a sobering update about Teddi’s health, stating, “You can’t say you’re cancer-free with the type of cancer she’s got for three years.” He explained that while she generally feels well, the side effects of immunotherapy leave her feeling unwell for days at a time.

Struggles and Resilience

Earlier in the week, John discussed Teddi’s condition on The Joe Rogan Experience, describing her as “really sick” and expressing the emotional toll it has taken on the family. “It’s not f–king fun,” he remarked candidly. In response, Teddi confirmed on her podcast that she is dealing with significant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of her health struggles.

Teddi initially faced her cancer journey in 2022 when she was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma, leading to over 15 surgeries. The situation escalated in February 2025 when emergency surgery revealed multiple tumors in her brain, at which point she was given a 50 percent chance of survival. John shared that he began to prepare for the worst, even planning for her burial.

By October of that year, Teddi’s stage 4 cancer had reportedly vanished, although she clarified that she was not considered in remission yet. “The way the doctors said it works, it’s like one year, then two years, then at three years you’re allowed to be considered… in remission,” she explained to her podcast audience.

As the Mellencamp family navigates this deeply personal and challenging journey, their shared experiences highlight both the difficulties of coping with serious illness and the unwavering support that family can provide during such trying times.