Teddi Mellencamp, well-known for her role in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, recently opened up about her personal struggles with cancer during an episode of her podcast, Two Ts In A Pod, aired on April 9, titled Hot Girls Never Die. In a poignant moment, she revealed that her father, the celebrated musician John Mellencamp, had inquired about her burial plans amidst her ongoing battle with stage 4 cancer.
As reported by People on April 10, Mellencamp shared that her father repeatedly called her—11 times in one day—to discuss the family mausoleum. She recounted the conversation, humorously noting,
“Yesterday my dad calls 11 times in a row. Finally, I answer, I’m like, ‘I’m in the bath. Let me live a little.’ He goes, ‘I just want to make sure you’re going to be in our group family mausoleum.’
In 2022, Teddi was diagnosed with melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, which was publicized by the media on April 3. During her conversation with her father, she expressed concern about space in the family mausoleum for her three children, Slate, Cruz, and Dove. John assured her that there would be room for everyone, explaining,
“He’s like, ‘Well, there’s going to be the top five and then we’re gonna have little areas around it, and then that’s where everyone’s going to get buried.’
Insights into Teddi Mellencamp’s Cancer Journey
As she documented her journey on social media, Teddi revealed that her cancer diagnosis in 2022 prompted her to raise awareness about skin health. In a candid Instagram post from October that year, she shared her past habits, explaining the risky tanning methods she employed as a teenager:
“I continue to share this journey because I was a 90s teen, putting baby oil and iodine on my skin to tan it. Never wearing sunscreen or getting my moles checked until I was 40 years old.”
The interview detailed that following her diagnosis, Teddi underwent several medical interventions, including surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy. By February 2025, she disclosed troubling news: doctors detected tumors in her brain as a result of her melanoma. Initially diagnosed with stage two cancer, her condition escalated to stage four early this year, leading to the removal of four tumors. Unfortunately, scans later revealed five new tumors.
In expressing her gratitude, Teddi took to Instagram stories to share her mixed emotions regarding her treatment progress. She reflected on her disappointment upon learning of the additional tumors, stating:
“I kinda thought that I had already beaten it, and then a couple days later, I found out I had four more tumors. So there’s so many different highs and lows.”
Support from John Mellencamp During Challenging Times
In a discussion with US Weekly on April 2, Teddi spoke about the critical role her father has played in her battle against cancer. She shared his advice, emphasizing the need for self-compassion while coping with the emotional turmoil brought on by medication. She recounted his encouraging words:
“He’s like, ‘There are moments where you emotionally won’t be able to control how you’re feeling because of a certain medication or a certain whatever. And you have to give yourself some grace and know this isn’t you sometimes. And that’s OK.'”
Teddi Mellencamp continues to share her journey through her podcast, Two Ts In A Pod, which is accessible on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and Amazon Music.