Teddi Mellencamp is stepping into a new chapter, one that blends family joy, vulnerability, and another career milestone thanks to \u201cThe Masked Singer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fresh off her reveal as Calla Lily<\/a> on the Fox competition series, Mellencamp opened up to PauseRewind entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno about keeping the secret, her health journey, and the friendships that carried her through some of her darkest moments.<\/p>\n Keeping her \u201cThe Masked Singer\u201d identity under wraps turned out to be easier than expected, except when it came to her kids. \u201cI knew the second that my kids heard my voice singing, that they would know it was me,\u201d Mellencamp laughed. \u201cMy son when I was singing \u2018Fight Song,\u2019 he was like, \u2018That\u2019s you.\u2019\u201d The reveal became a full family moment, watched together with her kids, and even her dad, John Mellencamp, who happened to be in town.<\/p>\n The \u201cTwo T\u2019s In a Pod\u201d co-host said the costume itself became a source of unexpected confidence. \u201cThat mask is a part of your protection,\u201d she explained. \u201cThe second the mask is over and you\u2019re looking directly in people\u2019s eyes, it\u2019s very different.\u201d Even so, the experience surprised her, especially how difficult it was to memorize every lyric. \u201cAll of a sudden, when you have to, you\u2019re like, \u2018Hold on, what comes next?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond the stage, Mellencamp spoke candidly about navigating life after skin cancer treatment and brain surgeries, and realizing she was dealing with PTSD — not just exhaustion. \u201cIt had gotten to the point where I didn\u2019t want to get up at all,\u201d she shared. \u201cI never was suicidal but I had gotten to the point where I felt so lonely that I knew I needed help.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, she\u2019s learning to ask for support, which is something she once resisted. \u201cI used to take pride in the fact that I didn\u2019t need anybody,\u201d she admitted. \u201cI really can\u2019t now and it\u2019s okay to not be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the people who showed up in a major way was longtime friend Kyle Richards. Mellencamp credits Richards with urging her years ago to get a \u201cskin tag\u201d checked, which led to early melanoma treatment. She also recalls her pal rushing to the ER when Mellencamp suddenly lost vision in one eye. \u201cAt a time that I was unable to be my own advocate, Kyle was my advocate,\u201d she said. \u201cShe stayed with me I was never allowed to be alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Reflecting on her \u201cReal Housewives of Beverly Hills\u201d days, Mellencamp says she\u2019d do things differently now. \u201cI wanted to be perceived as perfect,\u201d she said. \u201cGoing back now, I wish I could have just been myself. The good, the bad and the ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n And yes, she even shared a legendary childhood lesson: getting grounded by her dad in front of Madonna and Sean Penn. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve been late since,\u201d she joked. \u201cI knew I was toast,\u201d after she showed up for dinner three hours past curfew.<\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram @WeArePauseRewind<\/a> for all your pop culture obsessions.<\/p>\n