Teddi Mellencamp unveils new ink to cover cancer scar... and reveals tattoo connection to dad John

Daily Mail​

16-05-2025

Teddi Mellencamp used her Instagram platform to show off a new tattoo on Thursday.
The 43-year-old former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star — who is battling stage four cancer — shared a photo of fresh ink on her back.
The dark scripture was tattooed vertically and she asked fans in the caption, 'Can you guess what my new tat says?'
She added, 'We did family tat day yesterday and of course this is what I picked.'
Taking to Instagram Stories, she shared a closer look at the body art, which reads, 'Life is short even in its longest days,' an excerpt from her dad John Mellencamp's 2008 song Longest Days.
She added the caption, 'For my dad.' John, 73, also got a tattoo, as evidenced from a photo shared by tattoo artist @wyldwess on Instagram.
She added the caption, 'For my dad.' John, 73, also got a tattoo, as evidenced from a photo shared by tattoo artist @wyldwess on Instagram
Teddi, who shares three children with estranged husband Edwin Arroyave, underwent emergency surgery in February to remove large tumors in her brain.
She later began radiation and immunotherapy to fight the tumors, which were a result of her 2022 melanoma metastasizing.
The former reality television star has been documenting each step of her treatment and recovery with fans online.
Mellencamp and Arroyave share daughter Slate, 12, son Cruz, 10, and daughter Dove, five.
Her cancer news came months after she filed for divorce in November 2024.
The couple put the proceedings on pause for several months to face Teddi's diagnosis, but they recently decided to move forward with the split.
'Their divorce was on hold as Edwin was taking care of Teddi,' a source close to the pair told DailyMail.com days ago.
'She was staying at the home that they share together past several months. While Edwin is dedicated to continuing to help Teddi however he can in her recovery, they have decided to progress with their divorce.
'Their marriage is over and they want to put an end to this and finalize it amicably and with much respect,' the insider noted.
On May 8 Edwin informed the court that he has exchanged preliminary financial information with his ex.
Per the filing, he has provided his income and expense declarations, a list of his assets and debts and a list of what he believes is community property, along with a list of his separate property.
The filing was a response to Teddi's declaration of disclosure and income/expense request in February.
The former reality star revealed in late April that the brain tumors have significantly shrunk and that she could be weeks away from being cancer-free.
She offered another update on the May 14 episode of her Two T's In a Pod podcast with Tamra Judge, during which she called in from her immunotherapy appointment.
'Today I had the scan where they checked my lungs and the [tumors] are shrinking and one of them has shrunk so much you can barely even see it,' she said.