News | Entertainment
3 Mar 2026 18:43
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Teddi Mellencamp's youngest daughter has given her strength amid the star's cancer battle

    The 44-year-old TV personality - who was diagnosed with stage two melanoma in 2022, and revealed in April 2025 that the serious type of skin cancer was at stage four - has learned to be resilient in her fight following Dove's life-saving surgery after the youngster was diagnosed with lambdoid craniosynostosis in 2020.


    Teddi - who also has daughter Slate, 12, and son Cruz, 11, with her estranged 48-year-old husband, TV star Edwin Arroyave - took to Instagram on Wednesday (25.02.26) and paid a sweet sixth birthday tribute to her "miracle baby Dove".

    She captioned a shot of her cradling Dove post-surgery, and the pair enjoying time together at Dove's birthday party with: "Happy birthday to my miracle baby.

    "The strength and resilience you have shown since you came into this world is something I have learned to use in my own fight.

    And now at six, you're teaching us all how to enjoy life to the fullest while being your unabashed self."

    Teddi - who has had 17 melanoma spots, as well as four brain tumours, removed, and has successfully had immunotherapy, resulting in the growths to "significantly" shrink - then apologised to Dove for missing her fifth birthday due to being hospitalised.

    The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum continued: "I am still so sorry I was in the hospital and missed your 5th party; but dang you don't know how grateful I am to be at this one."

    And Teddi - who, in October 2025, revealed that tests showed her cancer was "undetectable" - ended her birthday tribute for Dove with: "Love you so much, Dovey Doo. Hope this year is your best yet."

    The post came over a month after Teddi's 74-year-old dad, singer John Mellencamp, revealed his daughter is "really sick" - months after she revealed her cancer had become "undetectable".

    Teddi - who revealed in April 2025 that the cancer was at stage four after the disease metastasized to her lungs and brain, resulting in her having a 50-50 chance of survival - later clarified the Jack and Diane performer's comments about her health by saying she is "still in immunotherapy".

    Speaking on the Two T's in a Pod podcast, Teddi explained: "You know, I think when he said the words 'suffering,' he meant like, how I'm mentally doing versus how I'm physically doing."

    The star rubbished the suggestion that her cancer had returned.

    Teddi said: "There's still no trace of cancer.

    "But I'm still considered stage four, and I'm still in immunotherapy, so essentially nothing's changed other than I still - I don't feel great ... I would hope that I would be feeling better by now, but I really don't."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     03 Mar: Twiggy has never felt comfortable wearing "frilly dresses"
     03 Mar: Harry Styles made himself laugh at his grandmother's funeral
     03 Mar: Elsie Hewitt "hated" being pregnant
     03 Mar: Lisa Rinna almost "strangled" Kim Richards on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
     03 Mar: Nancy Guthrie's family are set to regain access to her home
     03 Mar: Hilary Duff "felt used" after Ashley Tisdale's "toxic mom group" essay
     03 Mar: Zach Braff was working as a waiter when he landed his Scrubs role
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Crusaders assistant coach James Marshall's given Chay Fihaki the ultimate praise after Saturday's Super Rugby win over the Chiefs at Hamilton More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand officials are weighing up whether to approve the merger of two major global companies More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    A person's believed seriously injured after a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 1 near Northland's Te Kamo, just before 4pm 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Twiggy has never felt comfortable wearing "frilly dresses" 18:35

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps are under no illusions as to what stands between them and a berth in the final of cricket's T20 World Cup 18:27

    International:
    Can you ask a neighbour to remove or trim a large tree for safety or other concerns? 18:17

    Rugby League:
    Ali Leiataua is back in the centres for the Warriors campaign-opening match with the Roosters in the NRL 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Harry Styles made himself laugh at his grandmother's funeral 18:05

    Rugby League:
    New Zealand Rugby League have joined their cricket, rugby union and netball counterparts in searching for a new chief executive 17:37

    Entertainment:
    Elsie Hewitt "hated" being pregnant 17:35

    Law and Order:
    A man who fatally shot a 21-year-old on a Stewart Island hunting trip - has been sentenced to five months' home detention 17:27

    International:
    Tina Arena, Ngaiire reimagine Sia's Unstoppable, open up about life-saving blood donors 17:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd