For John Mellencamp, parenting Teddi Mellencamp stops for no one. This includes in front of ’80s superstars Madonna and Sean Penn.
Teddi was recently unmasked as Calla Lily in a new episode of The Masked Singer. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum spoke in an exclusive interview with People about the reveal. In the interview, Teddi discussed an awkward moment with her famous father in front of some A-list company.
John Mellencamp grounded daughter Teddi in front of the famous duo
“Sean Penn and Madonna were staying at our house,” Teddi recalled to People. “I went to go riding my horse in the morning, and my dad was like, ‘Okay, be back in three hours.’ Three hours as a kid [goes by fast], so all of a sudden I see his car pulling into the barn where I was riding probably six hours later. I could tell on his face he was pissed.”
“He didn’t talk to me at all in the car,” she continued. “I’m sitting there wondering, ‘What’s he going to say? What’s he going to do?'” Then, she said, “he walks me right up to where we’re having dinner, and he’s like, ‘Wash your hands, then sit down and have dinner with us.’ And in front of everybody, he says, ‘I’m taking your birthday away.'”
Madonna and Sean Penn were married from 1985 to 1989. The pair divorced following a withdrawn assault complaint at their Malibu home by Madonna.
Additionally, Teddi talked with People about her more recent relationship with her father. More specifically, she discussed John’s support following her cancer diagnosis. The reality star announced her stage IV melanoma diagnosis in April 2025.
“He’s consistent,” Teddi said. “Every day since I’ve been in the hospital, he’s called me. Even on the days that I don’t want to answer the phone, even on the days that I feel like I can’t do anything.”
Moreover, she added, “I know that he’s going to call and I have the choice to answer or not. But either way, he’s been so uplifting. He’s like, ‘You can do this and you’re a fighter.’ He likes to say, ‘You’re a Mellencamp. Mellencamps can to do anything.'”
In November 2025, Teddi announced scans found “no detectable cancer” after her melanoma battle. However, she continues to undergo immunotherapy treatments for stage 4 cancer that spread.
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