The Truth About John Mellencamp And Meg Ryan's Relationship

Fans have enjoyed movie star Meg Ryan and rocker John Mellencamp's on-again/off-again relationship for years. At one time, they nearly married, but called it quits once again in 2019. They are still not together as of this writing with both linked to other people; it seems different personality and lifestyles are what drives them apart time and time again, according to People. So how did Ryan and Mellencamp get to this place of breaking up to make up?

John Mellencamp has experienced some tragedies in life, and he had already been in three long marriages by the time he met Ryan in 2011. Priscilla Esterlene and Mellencamp were married from 1970 to 1981 and have a daughter named Michelle. He was next wed to Victoria Granucci for eight years and welcomed daughters Teddi and Justice. Elaine Irwin and Mellencamp were married for nearly two decades and raised sons Speck and Hud (via Closer Weekly).

Ryan had only been married once before she met Mellencamp. Her union with actor Dennis Quaid lasted from 1991 to 2001 and they share a son, Jack. Ryan also has an adopted daughter named Daisy (via Biography). Then she met Mellencamp and the pair tried to make it work for years.

John Mellencamp was not yet divorced from his third wife when he met Meg Ryan; she of the sweet romcom films like "When Harry Met Sally," "You've Got Mail," and "Sleepless in Seattle” (via IMDb). 

The problem was that he was living in his native Indiana at the time and she was living in New York. They conducted much of their romance long distance, but were still spotted by the paparazzi in places like New York, Martha's Vineyard, and Pennsylvania, according to Closer Weekly. Sadly, the pair split in 2014, reunited later that year, and split again in 2015.

"I don't think he loved all the attention he got just from dating an actress," a source told Closer Weekly at the time. "I bet he'll stay away from dating another famous person for a while." Well, that friend was not correct because when Mellencamp was seen dating again, it was with model Christie Brinkley. That romance didn't last long, however, and by 2017, Ryan and Mellencamp were together again.

It was Meg Ryan who made the big 2018 announcement when she shared a now-deleted Instagram post that simply said "Engaged," according to Closer Weekly. The pair didn't reveal much about their wedding, and John Mellencamp's reality star daughter, Teddi Mellencamp, didn't expect to hear much until right before the big day. 

"You think that they're involving me in the planning?" Teddi told Page Six. "One, I'm on 'Real Housewives.' Two, I'm a loudmouth. Three, like they'll probably tell me the day before, like 'Show up' and do not tell me why. They're very private."

Ryan herself was very vague on wedding plans; when asked when the wedding would even take place, the star told In Style in 2019, "And today I'm happy too. Yes, I'm going to get married at some point. But for now this engagement thing is a state of grace."

However, the romance roller coaster was over again soon as Ryan and Mellencamp broke off their engagement by 2019.

Rumors began circulating in the fall of 2019 that Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp had called it quits again when Ryan was spotted at a Los Angeles event sans her engagement ring. The next morning, she was spotted again with no ring.

According to People, sources say that Ryan and Mellencamp were just too different to keep their relationship going long term despite the love they felt for one another.

"John and Meg have had a volatile relationship from the beginning," a source close to Mellencamp explained. "They love each other, but there are disagreements which can become issues. He doesn't mean to be gruff, but it can happen, and it's hard to be around."

Another insider told the outlet that Mellencamp had no desire to get married again after three failed unions. "[John] didn't want to get married again," they revealed. "He loves [Meg], but marriage never seemed to be a part of it."