John Mellencamp

Here are our choices, presented in chronological order because we can’t really rank them. Well, except for maybe that one.

Couldn’t make it to all of John Mellencamp’s greatest concerts? We’ve got you covered.

An oral history of the funniest guy ever to call Indy home.

It has been a rough few years for the guy who once called himself (albeit ironically) “Mr. Happy Go Lucky.” But as usual, Mellencamp has turned that sorrow into great music.

“Honest to Goodness.” So quaint! That motto, chosen by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (a.k.a. Visit Indiana) to attract outsiders to the Hoosier State, received mixed reactions online shortly after its debut. Even so, the IOTD puts a positive spin on the phrase, with popular singer-songwriter and Indiana son Jon McLaughlin coming alongside to […]

Including one of Indiana’s biggest cons, a complicated woman in her final days, a reality-TV hilljack, the crafty governor-elect, a big-deal farmer, the coupling of an actress and a corn-fed rocker, and more.

The enticing trio of Stephen King, T Bone Burnett, and Hoosier John Mellencamp teams up to spin a terrifying story.

Q: I was stunned when John Mellencamp divorced supermodel Elaine Irwin a couple of years ago. What ever happened to her?

The former is the actress perhaps best known for playing “Sally” to Billy Crystal’s “Harry,” and the latter is some local corn-fed guy who was born in a small town once upon a time and went on to warble about pink houses and two creatures named Jack and Diane.

Proving that he cannot forget where it is that he comes from, Bloomington rocker John Mellencamp treated his girlfriend, actress Meg Ryan, to a 50th birthday party at Dunaway’s Palazzo Ossigeno (351 S. East St., 317-638-7663) on Saturday. In town for a performance at Clowes Memorial Hall, Mellencamp also flew in Ryan’s pal Kathy Najimy (of Sister Act fame), who ordered an undressed salad and vegetable plate. The party of 11 sat at a long table in the fireplace room, under the chandelier. Bottles of wine were ordered for the guests, “but he had Sierra Mist, and she had water,” says the restaurant’s office and events manager, Connie McDonald.

What makes this Columbus institution really sweet is the counter-side charm of Wilma Hare and her fellow soda jerks, who will pull you an ice cream soda the way it was in 1900 and serve it with a side of sass: “When that ice cream hits the carbonation, it will explode like a volcano. And I will laugh at the look of panic on your face.”