Tearful Teddi Mellencamp Says Dad John 'Pretty Much Saved My Life' as She Gives Him 2026 iHeartRadio Music Icon Award

Ilana KaplanFri, March 27, 2026 at 1:45 AM UTC

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Teddi Mellencamp and John Mellencamp in March 2026 in Los AngelesCredit: Fox -

Teddi Mellencamp became emotional as she presented her dad John Mellencamp with the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Icon Award

"He's being honored as an icon, a legend, a hit maker, but to me he'll always be dad," the reality star said of her rocker father

Teddi recently revealed that she has “no trace of cancer" but is being treated with ongoing immunotherapy for the disease

Teddi Mellencamp delivered an emotional tribute to her dad John Mellencamp at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

The reality TV star — who confirmed she has stage four cancer in April 2025 — teared up as she delivered a speech and presented the 74-year-old rocker with the iHeartRadio Music Icon Award at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26.

"Tonight we celebrate the career of my dad, John Mellencamp," Teddi, 44, began. "But before I tell you the story of John Mellencamp, the artist, I want to tell you the story of him as a father. He's being honored as an icon, a legend, a hitmaker, but to me he'll always be 'dad.'"

Teddi Mellencamp and John Mellencamp at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles on March 26, 2026Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty

Teddi then spoke about how people always wanted to know what it was like "growing up with a rock star for a father."

"In my eyes, it was no different than anybody else," she said, tearing up. "He gave me advice, he'd give me groundings, he would love on me."

Teddi then recalled getting "embarrassed" when he'd come to her volleyball games and give all the moms "chills."

But The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum then noted there were moments that she couldn't believe Mellencamp was her father.

"When you're in an Uber and they're blasting 'Jack & Diane,' when you're at a karaoke bar and somebody's singing 'Hurts So Good,' his plethora of hit songs holding a place in the hearts of millions, but for me, 'Longest Days' has been the song that means the most," she said.

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Teddi continued, "In it he sings, 'But nothing lasts forever / Your best efforts don't always pay / Sometimes when you get sick, you don't get better / That's when life is short, even at its longest days."

Teddi Mellencamp at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles on March 26, 2026Credit: Michael Buckner/Billboard via Getty

Teddi then reflected on discovering the news that her cancer had metastasized to her brain and lungs last year, which she revealed in April 2025.

"Because it was a little over a year ago when I got sick, my life felt short even when the days in the hospital seemed to go on forever," she said.

Teddi noted that John wasn't going to let the lyric, "Sometimes you get sick and you don't get better" define her life.

"He stepped up, took control, fought for me, and pretty much changed my life, saved my life," she said. "Oh, we're celebrating the icon, the artist, a man the whole world knows as John Mellencamp. A man I get to call dad, and my best friend."

In 2022, Teddi was initially diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer. She underwent 17 surgeries for the invasive skin cancer.

Recently, however, Teddi revealed that doctors told her she has “no trace of cancer.”

While she's still considered stage four, Teddi is being treated with ongoing immunotherapy for the disease.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”