John Mellencamp Invites Adorable Grandkids To Help Him Sing ‘Jack And Diane’ Onstage

May 01, 2023

John Mellencamp has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over four decades. Born on Oct. 7, 1951, in Seymour, Indiana, John began playing music at a young age, and by the time he was in college, he was already performing with local bands. In the early 1970s, he moved to New York City and released his first album, “Chestnut Street Incident,” in 1976 under his stage name, Johnny Cougar. However, it wasn’t until his fifth album, released in 1982 called “American Fool” that he achieved mainstream success.

“American Fool” included the hit singles “Hurts So Good” and “Jack & Diane,” which both reached the top of the charts and earned John two Grammy Awards. The album marked a turning point in John’s career and established him as one of the most successful artists of the 1980s.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, John continued to release a string of successful albums and hit singles, including “Pink Houses,” “Small Town” and “Cherry Bomb.” His music was a blend of rock, folk and country influences, and his lyrics often addressed social and political issues.

John has also been involved in film and television. He directed and starred in the 1992 film “Falling from Grace,” and his music has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows, including “The Walking Dead” and “The Sopranos.”

In 2008, John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, cementing his place as one of the most influential and enduring figures in rock music. His longstanding career has produced numerous classic songs and albums that continue to resonate with audiences today. Even children three generations removed from John can jive with his music, as proven when he brought some very special little guests on stage with him in March 2023.

John’s personal life has been a subject of interest for many of his fans and the media. He has been married three times and has five children. John’s first marriage was to Priscilla Esterline in 1970 when he was 19, which ended in divorce in 1981. They shared one daughter, Michelle Mellencamp. He then married Victoria Granucci in 1981, and the couple had two daughters, Teddi Mellencamp Arrojave and Justice Mellencamp. However, their marriage ended in 1989.

In 1992, John married model Elaine Irwin, and they had two sons, Hud and Speck Mellencamp. The couple announced their separation in 2010 and finalized their divorce in 2011. Since then, John has been in a few high-profile relationships, including with actress Meg Ryan.

John has been vocal throughout the years about how much family is a priority for him. In 2010, he told Men’s Health:

“I wasn’t very close with my own father; I mostly tried to steer clear of him. But now that I have a wife and kids, family time is a priority. I want my boys to remember these good times we’re sharing together.”

He emphasized this again to People in 2017 and said, “I’ve never cared about my image — just about my family, my kids.”

John became a grandfather when he was only 37 after his eldest daughter welcomed daughter Elexis in 1989. Michelle also had three more children. 

His daughter Teddi has four children and Justice has three, making John a grandfather of 11 kids.

“I’ve been a grandfather for so long it’s as normal to me as being a man,” John told People in 2000. 

At 71, John doesn’t appear to be hanging up his boots anytime soon, and in early 2023, went back on the road for his John Mellencamp: Live and In Person tour.

The audience at the Los Angeles stop of John’s tour on Mar. 22, 2023, was in for quite the adorable surprise. 

Before diving into one of his greatest hits, “Jack and Diane,” John invited some very special guests up on stage with him to perform the song. 

“I have a surprise, I have grandchildren who are dying to help me sing this song,” John revealed before three of his daughter Terri’s children – Slate, 9, Cruz, 6, and Dove, 2 – joined him. John started belting out the rock classic as the young trio looked happy to jump in during the song’s chorus. The youngest, Dove, looked too cute in her puffy, tulle skirt as she watched for cues from her siblings and grandfather.

The children’s mother, Terri, is best known for her appearance in “The Real Wives of Beverly Hills.” She is also the founder of lifestyle and fitness company All In by Teddi as well as a podcast host.

She posted a photo of her kids on stage with their granddad, whom they affectionately call PeePaw, and captioned it:

“So proud of my three kiddos who got on stage with PeePaw to sing “Jack and Diane” at The Dolby the other night. Obviously Diva Dove needed her own handler (thank you @hudmoney 🤣).”

Terri also shared a family photo of herself with the kids before heading out the door for the concert and invited fans to guess who came home the most exhausted from the night out.

“#AboutLastNight: Which of these 4 rockstars attended the @johnmellencamp concert and today needs a Pedialyte and 4 naps?” she wrote in the caption. 

Fans commented how thrilled they were by the cameo by John’s grandkids. One user wrote:

“They are the cutest set of grandkids! I bet PeePaw was beyond proud.”

Did you find the clip of John Mellencamp’s grandchildren joining him onstage adorable? If so, pass this along to friends and family so they can enjoy the moment, too.