John Mellencamp Supports Daughter Teddy Battling Cancer

John Mellencamp is doing everything possible to help his daughter Teddy as she faces stage 4 cancer. The 74-year-old musician mentioned that he talks to Teddy, known for her appearance on “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” daily, as she has been enduring a tough year.

“She has 10 lesions on her brain,” he shared, noting that while they aren’t cancerous right now, they are affecting her cognitive abilities since they are located in her frontal lobe. This information came to light in a recent interview with People.

Teddy has undergone some procedures to remove lesions but still requires radiation therapy for the ones that remain. John explained, “The lesions are still there, but there is no cancer. However, that doesn’t mean she can just go home. It just means she’s currently cancer-free, and she’ll have to continue treatment for many years.”

On an episode of his podcast, “Two Ts in a Pod” with Tamra Judge, Teddy revealed her plans to keep up with immunotherapy for at least a year, even though she no longer has detectable cancer.

Just a day prior, John publicly encouraged Teddy to return to Indiana, saying, “Let’s give it a try,” although she wasn’t completely on board with the idea. While discussing with the “Today” show hosts, he expressed concern about her long-term health, stating, “With the type of cancer she’s had for three years, you can’t say she’s cancer-free.”

He also mentioned how immunotherapy affects her, saying, “It feels good until she accepts it. Then it feels like hell for about four days, but after that, I feel normal.” This glimpse into their relationship shows how deeply intertwined their lives are amidst these health struggles.

Earlier in the week, John spoke about Teddy’s serious condition on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” describing her as “really sick” and “suffering.” Following the interview, Teddy acknowledged during a podcast episode that she’s grappling with severe PTSD.

Teddy was first diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma back in 2022 and has had over 15 surgeries in her fight against the disease. After that, several tumors were found in her brain, prompting emergency surgery in February 2025.

At that moment, her survival odds were estimated at 50 percent, leading John to prepare for the worst. However, by October, doctors confirmed that the stage 4 cancer had vanished. Teddy made sure to clarify to her podcast audience, “I’m not considered to be in remission or anything like that. The doctors said the treatment worked, and after one, two, or three years, it will be regarded as remission.”