John Mellencamp's 5 Children: All About His Sons and Daughters

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Teddi Mellencamp Instagram

John Mellencampfirst became a father at 19 years old.

Shortly after graduating high school, the “Jack and Diane” singer married his pregnant girlfriend, Priscilla Esterline. Six months after the pair eloped, she gave birth to a daughter, Michelle. The couple divorced in 1981, and Mellencamp wed Victoria Granucci — whom he later welcomed daughtersTeddiand Justice with during their eight-year marriage. He also shares two sons, Hud and Speck, with his third wife, Elaine Irwin.

“I’ve never cared about my image — just aboutmy family, my kids,” the musician told PEOPLE in 2017.

While speaking toMen’s Healthseven years prior, Mellencamp said, “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.”

Justice Mellencamp Instagram

In October 2024, Teddi let PEOPLE in on afamily tradition related to birthdays.

“My dad’s tradition is that our birthday present every year is that he pays you [in] dollars [based on your age],” Teddi said. “I got $43 this year. He’s been doing it this way for so many years. I don’t think he’s changing.”

From reality television to artistic endeavors, here’s everything to know about John Mellencamp’s five children.

Michelle Mellencamp, 54

Michelle Mellencamp Instagram

Mellencamp’s first daughter (and only child with ex wife Priscilla Esterline), Michelle Suzanne Mellencamp, was born on Dec. 4, 1970.

Like her famous dad, Michelle started a family at a young age. In 1989, she gave birth to her eldest daughter, Elexis. She was 18 at the time, making Mellencamp agrandfather at 37. “I’ve been a grandfather for so long it’s as normal to me as being a man,” he told PEOPLE in 2000, adding, “I swear in front of the kids and playing in a rock band is probably not very grandfatherly.”

Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, 43

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Mellencamp married his second wife, actress Victoria Granucci, in 1981, and the couple had two daughters together. Their first daughter, Teddi Jo Mellencamp, was born on July 1, 1981. She later moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where she spent most of her childhood.

At 17, Teddi moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting before becoming a fitness and wellness coach. However, she’s best known for her role onThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.She joined the cast in 2017 and spent three seasons on the show beforeconfirming her exitin 2020.

Teddi is a mom of four and founded All In after losing 80 pounds following the birth of her son. After marrying her husband, Edwin Arroyave, in 2011, she became stepmom to Isabella, his daughter from a previous marriage. The couple then welcomed their first child together in October 2012, a daughter named Slate. Two years later, in August 2014, their son, Cruz, was born. Their third child, daughterDove, arrived on Feb. 25, 2020.

According to Teddi, Mellencamp has a special bond with her kids. “They call him Peepaw,” she said. “He’s so much fun with them.”

In 2021, Teddi interviewed her dad forExtrato celebrate his 70th birthday. “The fact that I’m even sitting here talking to my daughter is a real success story in itself.” He went on to say, “I’m most proud of you kids. I’m proud of you kids because you could’ve turned out quite differently.”

Justice Mellencamp, 39

Justice Mellencamp was born in Indiana in August 1985 to Mellencamp and Granucci. After her parents divorced in 1989, she moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where she lived with her mom and older sister, Teddi.

Growing up, Justice traveled with her father often. In an interview withLocal Life,she said he always wanted to take his kids with him when he was on tour. “He felt that seeing the world was a very important side of life.”

In 2014, Justice married her high school sweetheart Michael Moore at her father’s house in South Carolina. “He opened up his home to our closest friends, which was a huge gift.” She went on to share that at her wedding reception, Mellencamp had Miriam Sturm, the violinist for his band, play her a song. “It was so beautiful,” she said. “And we had our father/daughter dance right there. Totally unplanned. That was sweet.”

Hud Mellencamp, 30

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Mellencamp welcomed his first son, Hud Mellencamp, on April 27, 1994, with his third wife, Elaine Irwin.

Like his siblings, Hud was born in Indiana, where he grew up with his parents and a younger brother. He also spent a great deal of time traveling with his dad.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Mellencamp shared that after he and Irwin married, she wanted to ensure a more family-friendly atmosphere when he was on tour. “There’s not been anybody —no girls or hangers-on— backstage at my shows since then. Her advice was good,” he said, adding that he brought his sons on the road with him.

Still, despite giving them a taste of the rock star life, he wanted his children to appreciate their lifestyle. “I try to make sure that my kids understand how fortunate they are and that they shouldn’t take any of this for granted.”

Hud attended Duke University, where he played football. The 28-year-old is now working as an executive recruiter.

He also founded a whiskey company calledMellencamp Whiskeywith childhood friend Levi Collison.

In 2024, Hud competed on the showClaim to Fame,where contestants who each secretly have a famous relative try to figure out who everyone is related to. After he finished in second place on the show’s third season, Mellencamp told PEOPLE he was “against” his son joining the show at first but changed his mind when it aired.

“Once we watched the show andwe watched himon the show, it was fun,” he said. “It was fun for everybody in the family and it was fun for him, and he did really well.”

Speck Mellencamp, 29

John Mellencamp Instagram

Mellencamp and Irwin welcomed their second son, Speck Wildhorse Mellencamp, on April 23, 1995.

According toUSA Today, when Speck was 20 years old, he was reportedly sentenced to four days in jail after he and his brother pled guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge. He was arrested again in 2017 for public intoxication after he got into a physical altercation with Hud and was put on probation.

Mellencamp seemingly addressed Speck’s arrestsduring aninterview withAARPin 2017. “Here’s what I told my son Speck, who’s always fighting everybody and fighting himself. I said, ‘I know you consider yourself a dangerous young man, but I’m a dangerous old man.’ "

Since then, Speck has turned to a career in the arts. He went to the Rhode Island School of Design and is now the executive director of the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts. “I drew a lot as a kid,” he said in an interview withIndianapolis Monthly.“My dad and I have collaborated on a few paintings.”

source: people.com