Most music genres focus on entertainment, but this genre has much more to offer than entertainment and talks about social issues. The genre didn’t exist until 1970 when many influential singers and songwriters came forward to expand and to gain recognition to the mainstream audience and also to enlighten them. Among the singers and songwriters, John Mellencamp was not only just one of them but played an exceptionally important part in making the genre become a success commercially. The other important singers from the genre are Tom Petty, Bob Seger, and Bruce Springsteen, and they made the genre one of the best-selling genres in the 80s. Though the genre started fading away with time, it still rules the playlists of many admirers. Well, apart from being a singer and songwriter, John Mellencamp has other talents too and is a painter, actor, and film director. John Mellencamp is a legend in the true sense and let us know more about his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Early Years And Struggles Of John Mellencamp, Including His Popular Songs
John J. Mellencamp was born on October 7, 1951, and was brought up in Seymour, Indiana, U.S. Over the years, John had changed his stages names many times like Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp. John can be considered as a true musician by birth as he was just 14 years old when he formed his first band. However, the years between 1965 to 1976, he lost his path a few times, as he got addicted to drugs and alcohol. His career started to retrieve in the mid 70s when he met Tony DeFries, who encouraged him to release his first album, Chestnut Street Incident, though the album did not earn much, however it opened his ways towards success. Two years later he released, A Biography and I Need a Lover, and the songs became a top-five hit in Australia, and this success made him confident and led to his second album, which was a commercial success. His next album, American Fool, which was released in 1982, became a huge hit, his first single, “Hurts So Good” secured No. 2 for four weeks and the top 10 position for 16 weeks. His other singles from the album “Jack & Diane”, “Hand To Hold On To” topped charts too, and the song, Hurts So Good received the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 25th Grammys. He continued with his success and always delivered his best in each comeback. His other songs “Crumblin’ Down”, “Pink Houses”, “Lonely Ol’ Night”, “Small Town”, “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.”, “Paper in Fire”, and “Cherry Bomb” also got added to the list of Top 10 Singles. He had 40 of his songs which made its place in the Top 40 charts in the United States. John sold 30 million albums in the US and over 60 million globally and also holds the title of being the first solo artist with most tracks by a solo artist to hit number one on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. He has an unbelievable impact on the music industry, and his latest album, which was released in 2017, received praise worldwide. He has a possible net worth of $30 million, according to 2021 reports.
About John’s Dating Life
John Mellencamp married his pregnant girlfriend Priscilla Esterline in 1970 when they were eighteen years old. The couple called it quits in 1981 and decided to co-parent their daughter Michelle. The same year he got married to Victoria Granucci, and they had two daughters Teddi Jo and Justice. Unfortunately, that marriage did not last for long, and they separated in 1989. In 1992, he married a fashion model named Elaine Irwin, and they lasted for nearly eighteen years when they decided to get a divorce in 2011. The couple is also parents to their three sons Hud and Speck. In 2011, John started dating an actress named Meg Ryan, and they both had an on and off relationship. John was also linked with other stars like supermodel Christie Brinkley, skincare expert Jamie Sherrill, but none of them lasted. It is rumored that John and Meg have gotten back together recently, but there are no solid confirmations.
