Rocker John Mellencamp and his wife are throwing in the towel after 20 years of marriage.
In a post-holiday week that has seen the announcements of several celebrity engagements — including those of Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, Hugh Hefner, and LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian — Mellencamp and his wife Elaine have decided to do just the opposite and separate.
On Thursday, a rep for the 59-year-old rocker says he and the model are splitting up after two decades and two children, although divorce papers have not yet been filed.
“John and Elaine Mellencamp are proud of their 20 years together and are very happy with their accomplishments both as parents and as a family. They will continue to raise their two children in Indiana but have decided to call it a day as a couple,” the couple’s rep, Bob Merlis, said in a statement on Thursday.
Elaine was just 23 when she met the singer after she was hired to appear on the cover of his Whenever We Wanted album. The wed a short time later.
Mellencamp gained fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s performing under the stage name John Cougar. His early rock hits include “Hurts So Good” and “Jack and Diane.” As his notoriety grew, he dropped the name Cougar and began performing as John Mellencamp. His latest album, No Better Than This, was released earlier this year.
