John Mellencamp, the celebrated American musician, has publicly revealed his plea for his daughter, former reality star Teddi Mellencamp, to move back to the family home in Indiana as she continues her recovery from a stage four brain cancer diagnosis.
A Father's Concern and a Public Plea
The 74-year-old singer made an appearance on NBC's Today show on Friday, where he shared his worries about his daughter's health. John Mellencamp disclosed that he has repeatedly tried to persuade Teddi to leave Los Angeles and return to Indiana with her three children. "I've tried to talk her into moving back home," he told hosts Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer, and Al Roker. "I said, 'Move back to Indiana, bring the kids and just come back and live in Indiana,' but she won't do it."
He described the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member as "really sick," adding that he plans to travel to Los Angeles to see her. Teddi, 42, is a mother to three children: daughters Slate, 13, and Dove, who turns six in February, and son Cruz, 11. She shares them with her estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave.
The Difficult Road of Treatment and Recovery
Teddi Mellencamp's health battle began with a melanoma diagnosis in 2022, which later metastasised. In February 2025, she underwent emergency surgery to remove large tumours from her brain. Following the operation, she began a rigorous course of radiation and immunotherapy to combat the cancer, which had advanced to stage four.
While Teddi shared hopeful news in October, announcing her cancer had become undetectable after months of treatment, her father provided a sobering perspective on the Today show. He explained that the nature of her illness means declaring oneself cancer-free is not straightforward. "You can't say you're cancer-free with the type of cancer she's got for three years," John stated. "She has lesions in her brain. It went from her back — just a little, teeny spot on her — and over the last couple years, it grew and it got inside her brain and her lungs."
Family Support and Personal Struggles
Despite the physical distance, Teddi has expressed profound gratitude for her father's unwavering support throughout her medical crisis. In an October Instagram post, she wrote, "It's been 10 months since my brain surgery and I am so grateful to @johnmellencamp for continuously being there for me and my family the entire time. Love you so much, Cougs. Thank you for everything."
In a recent episode of her Two T's in a Pod podcast, which is currently being co-hosted by Dolores Catania and Tamra Judge to allow Teddi to rest, she provided fans with a health update. Teddi shared that she has been focusing on therapy, rest, and time with her family. She also revealed she is grappling with the psychological aftermath of her ordeal, saying, "I'm struggling with massive PTSD from everything that happened. I didn't really realise it, so I'm starting to feel a little better. The cloud is lifting."
The reality TV personality has been open about her journey, noting that she experienced symptoms, including severe migraines, for six months before seeking medical attention, initially dismissing the pain due to other life stresses. She has documented each step of her treatment and recovery online, maintaining a connection with her supporters during this challenging period.
