At a Glance
- John Mellencamp, 74, revealed he asked daughter Teddi to return to Indiana as she battles stage 4 melanoma
- Teddi, 44, was diagnosed in 2022; cancer later spread to her brain and lungs
- Immunotherapy gives her a 50/50 survival chance
- Why it matters: The singer’s rare public plea highlights the emotional toll on families facing advanced cancer
John Mellencamp is pleading with his daughter Teddi Mellencamp to leave California and move back to Indiana as she fights stage 4 melanoma.
The “Jack and Diane” singer, 74, shared the request during a January 16 appearance on the Today show, telling hosts Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer that Teddi’s cancer has now reached her brain and lungs.
“You can’t say you’re cancer-free with the type of cancer she’s got for three years,” John said. “So she has lesions in her brain, it went from her back, just a little, teeny spot on her. Over the last couple years it grew, and it got inside her brain and her lungs.”
Teddi’s Treatment Cycle
Teddi, 44, undergoes immunotherapy that leaves her exhausted.
- She feels good until treatment days
- After each session she “feels like hell for about four days”
- Energy returns and she “starts feeling normal again”
John told News Of Losangeles he has repeatedly urged her to relocate.
“I’ve tried to talk her into moving back home,” he said. “I said, ‘Move back to Indiana, bring the kids and just come back and live in Indiana,’ but she won’t do it.”
A Father’s Frustration
Days earlier, on the January 14 episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, John offered a raw assessment of Teddi’s condition.
“She’s got cancer in the brain, and she’s suffering right now,” he said. “It’s not f—ing fun.”
Teddi’s cancer journey began in 2022 when a mole on her back was removed and biopsied, revealing melanoma. Since then doctors have removed 17 melanomas.
In February 2025 physicians discovered multiple brain tumors. Additional scans the next month found more tumors on her brain and lungs. By April 2025 the disease was classified as stage 4.
A Brief Ray of Hope
On a October 2025 episode of her podcast Two T’s in a Pod, Teddi said scans showed “no detectable cancer” after one immunotherapy round.
“When they told me, I was in such shock. I was like, numb,” she recalled.
Still, she acknowledged the victory might be temporary.
“I’m still going to be having days when I’m feeling sick and stuff because I still am in immunotherapy, so I’m still fighting because you have to be,” she said. “I’m not considered in remission or anything like that.”
50/50 Odds
During a Nightline interview Teddi revealed her doctor quotes 50/50 survival odds.
“It’s one of my favorite things to ask: ‘How long I got? What are my chances?’ And they oftentimes say 50/50,” she said. “50/50? I wouldn’t buy a car that’s only gonna drive 50% of the time. I don’t want this.”
Tour Announcement Amid Family Struggles
While coping with his daughter’s illness, John is preparing to return to the road. On January 14 he announced the Dancing Words Tour – The Greatest Hits.
“They’ve been asking me to do this for years. ‘Come play outside again.’ And I’m saying, ‘No, no, no.’ But this time, I’m 74 years old. I thought I might be getting to the age where I might want to try to share these songs with people again,” he told News Of Losangeles.
A promotional clip features actor Sean Penn urging him onward.
“There’s no reason to keep these songs to yourself. What’s the problem with trying to make people happy?” Penn says in the video.
John emphasized that family remains his priority.
“I’d have all my kids live at home if I could,” he told News Of Losangeles.
Key Takeaways
- Teddi Mellencamp continues immunotherapy for stage 4 melanoma with a 50% survival chance
- John Mellencamp publicly asked her to move back to Indiana with her three children
- The singer, 74, launches his Dancing Words Tour while supporting his daughter’s fight
- Teddi was first diagnosed in 2022 and remains determined to keep battling
