The Most Tragic Details About Teddi Mellencamp's Life

Teddi Mellencamp's famous last name precedes her everywhere she goes. She is, of course, one of John Mellencamp's five children, and the world never lets her forget it. However, in an April 2023 Instagram post, the former reality star made it abundantly clear that she didn't believe being a nepo baby was all it was cracked up to be. "I personally feel having a super driven and 'celebrity' parent pushed me even harder and added another level of pressure I put on myself," Teddi confessed. "But I also acknowledge a certain amount of privilege people may feel comes with that."  

It's safe to say that the podcaster felt the pull to Hollywood at a young age because she moved to Los Angeles alone at 17 to be an actor. In a 2019 Instagram post, Teddi shared how she struggled to make ends meet in her early days in the City of Angels and had to pick up two jobs. While attempting to establish connections in Hollywood to get her start in the industry, Teddi worked in the CAA mailroom during the day and waited tables at night. 

Things started looking up after nearly a year of struggle when she got a manager and started auditioning. Teddi finally believed her big break had come when a casting agent for a pilot called her manager back. However, Teddi was heartbroken to learn that although they were interested in her, she would need to lose 20 pounds to get the part. Needless to say, Teddi's stunning transformation into a reality TV star only brought more struggles.

Teddi Mellencamp got her big break in Hollywood when she joined the Season 8 cast of the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" in 2017. However, her time on the popular reality show ended after just three years. In an August 2020 Instagram video, Mellencamp compared her exit from "RHOBH" to a breakup. In fact, it was probably more like being dumped out of the blue since the former reality star made it clear that she wasn't choosing to walk away from the hit reality show.

In the caption, Mellencamp also joked that she was probably the last person to report on the news. Then, in an episode of her "Teddi Tea Pod" podcast, Mellencamp admitted to being completely "blindsided" by her exit (via Bustle). Further, the fitness trainer claimed that she had first learned of the sad news of her departure through friends who read the news online. She had to reach out to several people at the network just to get official confirmation of her firing. 

As more time passed, Mellencamp felt that her exit from the reality show had likely been in the works for a while since the scenes where her good side was on full display didn't make the final cut of what turned out to be her last season of the show. Meanwhile, an insider informed The Sun that Mellencamp was fired because the network believed she didn't add enough value to the show. They elaborated, "She is boring and stale and does not offer anything to the franchise with her robotic and staged delivery when interacting with the other cast members."

In October 2022, Teddi Mellencamp shared on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with Stage II melanoma following a biopsy of an abnormal spot. Then, in a December 2022 Instagram post, Mellencamp proudly announced that she was cancer-free. The podcaster also revealed that doctors had eventually surgically removed 11 other melanoma, or cancerous moles, on her body. Additionally, three of her lymph nodes had to be excised as part of her treatment too. However, in the following two years, Mellencamp had to undergo further treatment after doctors discovered more melanomas on her body. 

Since her diagnosis, the former Real Housewife has undergone surgeries to remove 17 melanomas. Then, in February 2025, Mellencamp shared began experiencing excruciating headaches that she later discovered were caused by brain tumors. As part of her treatment, she would have to undergo yet more surgery, in addition to radiation. In a health update from March 2025, she revealed that her cancer had spread to her lungs and brain. 

However, Mellencamp stressed that she remained optimistic that she would someday be completely cancer-free. While most people cheered the "Two Ts in a Pod" co-host along on her difficult journey, others expressed their belief that her chances of survival were bleak. In response to one such comment, Mellencamp wrote, "These kind of comments make me really sad." She continued, "I know people are trying to help but heart breaking for me to read. Of course I know the chances but I truly believe with my whole heart I will beat this and watch my kids graduate."

In November 2024, TMZ reported that Teddi Mellencamp had filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years, Edwin Arroyave. Court documents obtained by the tabloid revealed that she requested the court to grant her physical and legal custody of their four children alongside visitation rights for Arroyave. The Bravo alum also wanted her soon-to-be-ex to shell out spousal support. During a February 2025 appearance on "The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show," Mellencamp hinted that Arroyave had cheated on her at some point in their long-standing relationship. However, the former reality star didn't let that deter her and instead strived to increase her value in his eyes. 

Mellencamp candidly confessed that having kids only caused them to drift further apart, adding, "I would say probably at the point in time Edwin was ready to start working on it and really change, I probably stopped." However, shortly after news of their divorce broke, insiders clarified to the Daily Mail that it was actually Mellencamp who had had an affair, with horse trainer Simon Schröeder (who was notably also married at the time), which lasted a couple of months. 

During a November 2024 episode of "Two Ts In A Pod," she refused to give a definitive answer, reasoning, "There's multiple sides to every story." Meanwhile, in a March 2023 episode of "Two Ts In A Pod," Mellencamp shared that she wanted to end her marriage while filming the first season of "RHOBH." She explained that she grew resentful of her then-husband after realizing she had grown financially dependent on him after experiencing financial freedom for decades.

Teddi Mellencamp's relationship with her father, John Mellencamp, went through a rough patch that sadly resulted in them becoming estranged. During an episode of "Two Ts In A Pod," Teddi divulged, "When I was 15 years old we got into an argument and we didn't talk for three years over money." Meanwhile, during an appearance on "Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson," she recalled how her father had delivered a low blow during their argument by saying, "You know what? F you, Teddi. I have other kids." 

Although she didn't disclose any other specifics about their fight, there's a chance it was about her decision to pursue a career in Hollywood. While discussing the subject on "Two Ts In A Pod," Teddi shared that John had made it clear that she wouldn't financially support her if she moved to California instead of taking a more traditional life path and going to college. On "Diving Deep," Teddi confirmed that, somewhat shockingly, their estrangement only ended when VH1 contacted her to appear in an episode of "Behind The Music." 

And from there on out, John and Teddi's relationship only grew stronger. In an April 2025 Us Weekly interview, Teddi noted that the "Hurts So Good" hitmaker had been a pillar of support through her cancer treatment. Among many other pearls of wisdom he bestowed on her, John urged his daughter to remain kind to herself whenever she experienced mood fluctuations during her treatment because they were completely out of her control.

In July 2020, Teddi Mellencamp took to Instagram to announce that her infant daughter, Dove, had been diagnosed with Lambdoid Craniosynostosis, which is a condition that can hinder a child's brain growth. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight shortly afterward, she confessed, "I'm really emotional about it," elaborating, "All I care about is that Dove is happy, feeling good, safe and protected and I'm going to do my very best as her mother to make sure that I'm there to support her 100 percent. But leading up to it, it's scary." 

Despite all her understandable anxiety surrounding the situation, the former "RHOBH" star still acknowledged how grateful she was that they were able to start treatment ASAP. In the months following little Dove's surgery, Mellencamp updated her fans on Instagram about how her infant was adjusting to the helmet she had to wear as part of her recovery. Then, in June 2021, the podcast host happily confirmed that Dove didn't have to wear it anymore. 

However, that wasn't the only time that one of Mellencamp's daughters needed surgery. In June 2020, the fitness trainer took to Instagram to note that her eldest daughter, Slate, who was about seven at the time, had to undergo skin grafting because the tip of her finger had been amputated after she accidentally got it caught in a door. During her chat with ET, Mellencamp gushed about how inspired she was by Slate's optimism and determination.