This Country Singer Survived a Heart Attack – How Has His Life Changed Since Then?

For years, he captivated audiences and dominated the country music scene, but behind the spotlight, he faced a health scare that shook his world. Through perseverance and a will to overcome, he came out the other side forever changed.

Born on October 7, 1951, in Seymour, Indiana, this renowned singer has built a career that most musicians can only dream of. With multiple accolades to his name, he lives a life that many admire, but few truly know.

Over the years, he's sold nearly 30 million records, earned a staggering 14 Grammy nominations, and released at least 25 albums. Yet, despite all these achievements, he humbly credits his success to sheer luck.

"Very simply, luck is thinking you're lucky, period. And you're talking to the luckiest guy you're ever going to talk to," he gushed in a past interview.

But music isn't his only talent. This country star has proven his versatility as a performer, dipping his toes into the acting world.

From starring in the 2001 drama film "Madison" to lending his voice to the multi-Emmy-winning animated series "Family Guy," and even appearing in the 2006 drama series "Love Monkey," he's shown he can conquer more than just the music charts.

Surviving a Health Scare

This rocker has spent over four decades captivating audiences and defining his place in the entertainment world. Now 73, he has also faced more than his fair share of challenges.

The "Hurts So Good" singer's journey has been anything but smooth. Having been in rock bands since his early teens, he once embraced the wild lifestyle that came with the territory. But in 1971, he made the life-altering decision to quit drugs and alcohol — something that, tragically, many of his childhood friends couldn't achieve.

However, one habit proved harder to shake: smoking. The star picked up his first cigarette at just 14 and kept up the habit for decades. Although he has cut back, he admitted that a serious health scare in the '90s forced him to reassess his choices.

"I had lots of doctors going, 'John, your cholesterol's way too high and you smoke,'" he recalled, shrugging off their warnings back then. But in 1994, a frightening heart attack at 42 delivered the wake-up call he couldn't ignore. "I learned my lesson," he confessed.

Years later, his priorities shifted, and the country star focused more on family than fame. At 55, he and his then-wife, Elaine Irwin, made a conscious effort to raise their kids in a way that would create lasting memories.

Rather than keeping his career at the forefront, he poured his energy into spending quality time with his boys, taking them on trips and outings to expose them to new experiences. "We take the boys with us everywhere and we're always trying to open their eyes to new experiences," he once said.

Coming from a strained relationship with his own father, the country legend realized that time is the most valuable gift a parent can give. "I want my boys to remember these good times we're sharing together," he emphasized.

But while he thrived in his career and as a dedicated father, love has been a more complicated story for this music icon. Though he's a Grammy winner with countless hits, he has not found lasting romance.

A History of Tumulous Relationships

He has walked down the aisle three times: first with Priscilla Esterline and they were married from 1970 to 1981. He later married Victoria Granucci in 1981 and their union ended in 1989. Finally, he wed Elaine Irwin in 1992 but their marriage ended in 2011. He's also a father of five from his three failed marriages.

Despite the heartbreak of three divorces, the singer never stopped believing in love. Following his split from Elaine, he was in the limelight again — this time, he was romantically linked to actress Meg Ryan in 2011.

Their relationship quickly became a roller coaster, with the two breaking up in 2014, reconciling the same year, and splitting yet again in 2015 before reuniting once more in 2017.

By 2018, the singer appeared on the "TODAY" show, beaming as he announced his engagement to Meg. "I'm engaged at 67 to a very funny woman — the funniest woman I ever met," he gushed. It seemed like he had finally found his forever partner.

But sadly, their engagement wasn't meant to be. In 2019, the pair called it quits for good, leaving fans wondering if he would ever find the enduring love he deserved.

However, there's more to this legendary musician than just his songs and romantic escapades. He's also a gifted artist whose paintings and other creative works have been showcased in galleries across the U.S.

His passion for art runs so deep that he even established a personal studio in New York City while dating Meg. He once explained, "Meg lives here in New York and there is no place to paint where she lives, so I bought this place to paint."

The survivor and legendary icon is none other than John Mellencamp. Even though he once acknowledged that he wasn't the "easiest guy to get along with," he found love again.

Finding Love Again

After a life filled with ups and downs, professionally and personally, John may have finally found a new chapter of happiness. His new girlfriend is none other than multimillionaire socialite Kristin Kehrberg.

The blonde beauty is the widow of Shelter Island advertising guru Richard "Dick" Tarlow, who passed away in May 2022 at 81. While it's unclear where Kristin currently resides, she and Richard — whom she married in 2009 — purchased a stunning $16.5 million apartment on Fifth Avenue six years before his passing.

John and Kristin's romance blossomed in early 2023, but they kept things under wraps until they were finally spotted together in August for the first time. The pair were photographed outside his granddaughter Slate's fashion show at the Unincorporated Life in Los Angeles, looking as smitten as ever.

From those tumultuous early days of rock-and-roll mayhem to his health battles and heartaches, John's life is a testament to resilience, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of happiness.