- Co-founded Farm Aid (benefitting family farmers) with Neil Young and Willie Nelson.
- Became a grandfather at age 38 when his eldest child, Michelle Mellencamp, had her daughter, Elexis Suzanne Peach, in 1989.
- Johnny Cash considered him one of America's 10 greatest ever songwriters.
- Announced his engagement to 8 year relationship actress Meg Ryan on November 8, 2018.
- Graduated from Vincennes University in 1973 with an associate degree in broadcasting.
- On April 29 through May 4, in 1999, John Mellencamp's paintings were on display in Vincennes University's Shircliff Gallery of Art. He had 10 paintings in the exhibit. There is a book called "Mellencamp: Painting and Reflections," with 75 of his paintings.
- Father of Michelle Mellencamp (born December 4, 1970), with Priscilla Esterline; Teddi Jo Mellencamp (born July 1, 1981) and Justice Mellencamp (born 1985), with Victoria Granucci; and Hud Mellencamp (born 1994) and Speck Mellencamp (born 1995), with Elaine Irwin.
- Suffered a mild heart attack in the midst of a 1994 tour.
- Avid oil painter.
- He won an American Music Award for "Jack & Diane" in 1982.
- Named his son Hud, after Paul Newman's character in the movie Hud (1963).
- Smoked five packs of cigarettes a day until his heart attack. He still continues to smoke three packs a day.
- Honorary doctorate from Indiana University in May 2000.
- In fall of 2004 he participated in the Vote for Change concert tour organized to encourage the defeat of George W. Bush in the U.S. presidential election.
- He was born with a mild form of spina bifida. Riley Hospital for Children's neurosurgeon, Doctor Robert Heimburger (1917-2015) operated on that surgery.
- Resided with his wife Elaine in Bloomington, Indiana (2005)
- The albums "Nothin' Matters and What if it Did," "Best That I Could Do," and "Words and Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits" were all produced, engineered, and mixed by Bruce Robb in association with Bruce Robb Productions.
- Musician/actor/director
- Performed at the Harvey's Outdoor Amphitheatre at Lake Tahoe on 7/14/2006. (July 2006)
- Son of Richard Mellencamp.
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