Teddi Mellencamp gets emotional as she presents her father, John Mellencamp, with the top honor at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday.
The 33-year-old TV star, who is suffering from stage four cancer, presented the musician with the iHeartRadio Icon Award at a star-studded ceremony on March 26.
“Tonight we celebrate the career of my father, John Mellencamp,” Teddy began. “But before I tell you the story of artist John Mellencamp, I want to tell you his story as a father. He is being revered as an icon, a legend, a hitmaker, but to me he will always be ‘Dad.’
real housewives of beverly hills The alum then shared that people often ask him what it’s like to “grow up with a rock star for a father.”
“In my eyes, it was no different than anyone else’s,” Teddy said, crying. “They gave me advice, they grounded me, they felt good about me.”
Leading up to the emotional moment, the reality star reflected on discovering the news that her cancer had spread to her brain and lungs.
She said, “Because it was a little over a year ago when I became ill, my life still seemed short when the days in the hospital seemed to last forever.”
Teddy added, “He stepped up, took control, fought for me and pretty much changed my life, saved my life.” “Oh, we’re celebrating the icon, the artist, the man the whole world knows as John Mellencamp. A man I call dad, and he’s my best friend.”
After his heartfelt comments, John came on stage to collect the trophy and while addressing the audience he immediately handed it back to his daughter so she could keep it.
Teddy announced that he was diagnosed with melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – in 2022.
