Where is John Mellencamp’s ex-wife: Victoria Granucci now?

Victoria Granucci is best-known as the ex-wife of American singer John Mellencamp., but she likes to keep a low profile and does not appear much

Olivia Clarke

John Mellencamp and Victoria Granucci

Victoria Granucci is best-known as the ex-wife of American singer John Mellencamp., but she likes to keep a low profile and does not appear much in public. However, I am sure you are all curious about her whereabouts. Come, let’s find out what she is doing now.

Early Life and Family

Victoria Granucci was born on 26 November 1958 in USA, so has an American nationality, belongs to white ethnicity, and her astrological sign is Sagittarius. She has kept her personal life under wraps, which is why no information is available regarding her family, early life, and education. The only thing we know for sure is that Victoria matriculated from her neighborhood’s high school. After which she joined the entertainment industry.

Career

At a very young age, Victoria had developed a deep interest in the entertainment world.

She participated in various shows and movies. Some of the projects Granucci appeared in are “Happy Days,” “Chips,” “Fantasy Island,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Love Boat,” and “Grease,” etc. However, what made Victoria truly famous was her and John Mellencamp’s appearance in the “Jack and Diane” video.

Personal life, Ex-Husband John Mellencamp

Before meeting Victoria, John Mellencamp was married to Priscilla Esterline. He first saw Granucci’s picture at a friend’s house and insisted on meeting her. The couple instantly clicked and started dating. In 1981 Mellencamp divorced Esterline after which he married Victoria, and on 1 July 1981, Granucci gave birth to their daughter named Teddi Jo Mellencamp. In 1985 the couple welcomed their second child Justice Mellencamp, after which Victoria took up the responsibility of raising the two kids while John was busy with his tours.

However, the couple divorced in 1989, apparently the reason was Mellencamp’s infidelity. After her divorce, Victoria moved to South Carolina, but despite their separation, Granucci and Mellencamp have remained on friendly terms.

Who is John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp is a singer, songwriter, and actor; he belongs to German lineage. Mellencamp is best known for his heartland rock style focusing on traditional instruments. He became famous during the 1980s, in 1982 had launched ten hit singles, some entitled “Hurt So Good,” “Jack and Diane,” “Crumblin’ Down,” “Cherry Bomb,” and “Pink House,” etc. He co-founded the Farm Aid organization. Its objective was to highlight the problems of the farmers and to raise money for them. For this purpose, a concert was held in 1985 at Champaign, Illinois. Since then, the Farm Aid concerts have become a yearly event, so raising more than $57 million.

John Mellencamp

Early Life and Family

John Mellencamp was born on 7 October 1951, in Seymour, Indiana USA, to Richard and Marilyn Mellencamp; his father was the vice president of Robert Electric. During his infancy, John went through spina bifida surgery. He, along with his two brothers and sisters, grew up in a very strict environment. Richard Mellencamp wanted his son to be proficient in both the academic and sports areas, however, John was more interested in music and never met his father’s expectations.

At the age of 14, Mellencamp created a band called Crepe Soul, and later played in various other groups such as Trash, Snakepit Banana Barn, and the Mason Brothers. His sources of inspiration were Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, James Brown, and The Rolling Stones. In 1972 he attended Vincennes University, but started drinking and taking drugs, but somehow managed to graduate, after which he apparently gave up drugs/alcohol and embarked on his musical journey.

Music Career

Initially, John Mellencamp worked as a telephone installer, however, he later moved to New York, where he met Tony DeFries – he was the first person who recognized Mellencamp’s talent. In 1976 John released his first album under the name Johnny Cougar name, entitled “Chestnut Street Incident.” The reason behind the name change was that Tony DeFries felt that the surname Mellencamp would negatively impact the album sale. However, despite the switch, John’s first album failed miserably.  In 1977 he bid farewell to Tony and joined the Riva Records, after which he released various albums, and finally succeeded with “I Need A Lover” which became a hit in Australia, and received positive feedback in the US as well.

His next album was called “Scarecrow,” launched in 1985, which had a patriotic vibe and topped the US charts.

Furthermore, three songs from this album, i.e., “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” and “Small Town” entered the top 10 hit list. Mellencamp grew up in the countryside, the traces of which could be felt in his songs as well; in 1987 he released “Lonesome Jubilee,” distributed in over 10 different countries, a tribute to his uncle, who had died of cancer. In 1994 Mellencamp suffered a minor heart attack, but drew inspiration from it, and in 1996 launched the “Mr. Happy Go Lucky” album, which reflected his feelings regarding death. He later released another six albums, the latest in 2014.

 Acting Career

Mellencamp has appeared in several movies too, such as “Falling from Grace (1992)”, “After Image (2001)”, “Lone Star State of Mind (2002),” and “Madison (2005)”.

He was also offered a role in the “Idolmaker” movie; however, John rejected it, and also refused to participate in “Thelma and Louise”, apparently because he was uncomfortable with taking off his shirt. In 2007 Mellencamp appeared in the TV series “At the Movies” as a guest critic.

Honors and Awards

Over the years, John Mellencamp has won various awards, such as Grammy Award (1983), Robbins Silver Clef Award (1991), Billboard Century Award (2001) and Woody Guthrie Award (2003), etc. On 6 October 2008, he received the Classic Songwriter Award, and in the same year, Mellencamp was initiated into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. On 9 September 2010, he was given the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award in Nashville. In 2012 John received the John Steinbeck Award. On 27 April 2016, in Los Angeles, he won the prestigious Founders Award at ASCAP Pop Music Awards. In 2019 Mellencamp received the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award.

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Farm Aid press conference 2019 @farmaid #mellencamp

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Painting Career

John Mellencamp developed a deep interest in painting at an very early age. His mother probably influenced him, as Marilyn enjoyed painting flowers and sceneries. After John’s music career took off, he did not have much time for visual art, however, he didn’t cut off his interest in painting, and continued experimenting with various techniques. In 1988 he entered the Art Student League, and learned under David Leffel. John also attended the Herron School of Art and Design, located in Indianapolis, where he studied under Jan Royce. Mellencamp’s painting style was deeply influenced by Chaim Soutine, Walt Kuhn, Otto Dix, and Max Beckmann, but he eventually developed his unique portrait technique, which according to some critics is similar to German Expressionists. He held his first exhibition on 12 April 2012 at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, called “Nothing Like I Planned”, and received a lot of positive responses.

The second display was a major one, held on 3 November 2013 at the Butler Institute of American Art, and was given the name “The Paintings of John Mellencamp.”

His next exhibit, the “American Dreams,” was held in Georgia on 11 January 2015 at the Morris Museum of Art, and another exhibition “John Mellencamp: The Isolation of Mister” was hosted on 22 October 2015 in New York City at ACA Galleries.  His latest exhibit was called “Life, Death, Love, and Freedom” and was held on 26 April 2018 also at ACA Galleries. John Mellencamp’s works are also displayed at the Herron School of Art and Design; his works are well-liked, and even Dough McClemont, in an Art Space review, stated that ‘Mellencamp paints handsomely grotesque portraits in oil that are as solemn and stirring as his hit songs.’

Marriages and Children

In 1970 John Mellencamp and his girlfriend Priscilla Esterline tied the knot. However, their marriage ended in 1981, after which he married Victoria Granucci, and their marriage lasted till 1989. On 5 September 1992, John and Elaine Irwin married, but after18 years divorced on 12 August 2011.  After this, Mellencamp started dating actress Meg Ryan, however, their relationship ended in 2014.

Posted by DJ Retro Mike on Monday, August 12, 2019

In 2015 it was reported that John and Christie Brinkley had started dating, but they broke up in 2016, after which Meg Ryan and Mellencamp reunited, became engaged in 2018, but a year later their relationship came to an end. So far John Mellencamp has fathered five children named Michelle, Teddi Jo, Justice, Hud, and Speck.

Teddi Jo Mellencamp

Teddi followed her parent’s footsteps and entered the entertainment industry, appearing in the 8th and 9th seasons of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”. In 2019 Teddi Jo participated in the movie “Next Level” in the role of Mrs. Stallings. Mellencamp’s first husband’s name is Matthew Rob, She is now married to Edwin Arroyave, having met via a (supposed) one-night stand. The couple has three children – Teddi gave birth to Slate and Cruz, while Isabella is her stepdaughter. Both John Mellencamp and Victoria Granucci attended their daughter’s two weddings. She also runs a fitness coaching website by the name of LA Workout Junkie.

Justice Mellencamp

Justice Mellencamp was born in 1985. At the age of four, along with her mother and sister she, moved to the South Carolina area, and grew up in Sea Pines, where she attended Sea Pines Montessori, then matriculated from Hilton Head Prep. Justice then enrolled into Indiana University, however, after a year she said goodbye to the university and returned home. Justice Mellencamp is currently married to her high school sweetheart Michael Moore. The couple had been friends since their childhood and started dating in high school, marrying on 4 October 2002. They have two children named Trent and DoDo Moore. Michael works at the Schembra Real Estate Group, while Justice is a hairstylist. They also have a pet dog named Lorelei.

Hud Mellencamp

Hud Mellencamp was born on 27 April 1994 to John Mellencamp and Elaine Irwi, so is currently 25 years old. During his high school days, Hud was an excellent boxer and won the Golden Glove twice. He was also a Junior Olympics champion.  Hud attended Duke University and joined the football team, although before the university, he had never played football; he played as a wide receiver. In 2013, he with his brother Speck were arrested for fighting outside a bar.

Hud Mellencamp

Posted by Duke Football on Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Body Measurements

Victoria Granucci is currently 60 years old. She is 5ft and 6ins tall (1.67m), weighs around 143 lbs (64 kgs), and although her exact body statistics are unknown, she has a slim figure. Her hair is blonde, and her eyes are blue.

Net worth

Victoria Granucci’s net worth is estimated at over $1 million as of early 2020, however, her daughter Teddi  has a reputed net worth of $12 million, and her ex-husband John Mellencamp’s is around $25 million. Justice Mellencamp has a net worth of $200,000.

What is Victoria Granucci currently doing

She is currently performing the duties of a grandma. In an interview, Victoria stated that “My daughters have wonderful children and have really given me a whole new outlook on life.” According to some sources, Granucci also works at a bar; however, this information is currently unverified. From time to time, Victoria and John meet up with each other. She also has a good relationship with Mellencamp’s extended family.

Olivia Clarke

Started with TheLegit.org in April 2023. Previously, Executive Editor at Echoes Media. Holds a Journalism degree from New York University.

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