John Mellencamp and wife separate after 20 years

In a post-holiday week that has seen several announcements of celebrity couplings, singer John Mellencamp and his wife Elaine have decided to do the opposite and separate.

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," their spokesman said in a statement on Thursday.

No further details were available.

Mellencamp gained fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s under the stage name John Cougar. His early rock hits include "Hurts So Good" and "Jack and Diane" and as his notoriety grew, he dropped the name Cougar and began performing as John Mellencamp.

While he has never regained the superstar status he enjoyed during the '80s, Mellencamp has kept a solid fan base and continued to put out albums and tour around the world.

His wife, whose maiden name is Irwin, is a model who met the singer when she was hired to appear on the cover of his "Whenever We Wanted" album. She was 23 when they married.

Re: John Mellencamp and wife separate after 20 years

a bit surprised by this as I know some people that know her and always said they were sooo incredibly happy... thought they would make it then again a bit odd all three of his wives look the same and each time he went for someone younger

Re: John Mellencamp and wife separate after 20 years

20 years is a long time in celeb world. How sad they split.