BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA: In a recent life reflection, John Mellencamp, 71, addressed his regrets and failures as Meg Ryan's boyfriend. The singer has acknowledged that during their ten-year relationship, he was a "s***ty" boyfriend to the actress. The 'Hurts So Good' singer, who spoke to Esquire in an interview that was published on June 13, accepted full responsibility for the breakdown of the intermittent relationship, which came to an official end in 2019.
After Mellencamp's divorce from model Elaine Irwin in 2011, he started dating Ryan, 61. The two were in love for three years before calling it quits in 2014. Three years later, they resumed their romance, according to a source who said that "distance" was the reason behind the split. Mellencamp claimed that the 'Sleepless in Seattle' actress and he had both recently emerged from their "shells" when they began dating, as per Independent.
Early days of romance
At the beginning of 2011, there were rumors that the two were dating after they were seen shopping and sipping coffee together in Martha's Vineyard and New York City. A source close to Ryan, however, said that the couple started dating in 2010, just a few months after Mellencamp's divorce from model Elaine Irwin, his wife of 18 years. People who saw them said they appeared happy and at ease. The artist and actor initially kept their newfound love private, but when they were seen holding hands in early 2011, they were compelled to come public.
'Distance' drove a wedge
Mellencamp and Ryan's initial romance ended in 2014 as a result of their inability to sustain a long-distance relationship. "She lives in New York and he resides in Indiana," a source informed People at the time. "It was the long distance that ultimately was the cause." In 2013, Mellencamp thought about relocating to New York City, but he couldn't stand to leave his home state. Both celebrities moved on quite fast, with Ryan opting to take a break from romances for a year while Mellencamp dated model Christine Brinkley in the meantime.
Engagement in 2018
Mellencamp and Ryan's separation wasn't forever, as they reconciled in 2017. Although it appeared that the two were getting along, Mellencamp revealed more about the actress in a Sirius XM interview with Howard Stern in March 2017. "Oh, women hate me," he muttered. "I loved Meg Ryan. She hates me to death." The pair got engaged a year later. Ryan announced the engagement in a now-deleted Instagram post that featured a hand-drawn picture of herself and Mellencamp with the caption "ENGAGED!" The couple broke up their engagement in 2019, so their happiness was evidently short-lived.
House hunting in New York
According to Daily Mail, Ryan and Mellencamp started looking for a home two months after they announced their engagement. The two were spotted seeing new houses in Upstate New York and Connecticut at the time. The celebrity couple was led outside of the home by what appeared to be a realtor. According to reports, the stunning house the two were viewing had seven bathrooms, five bedrooms, and a heated saltwater pool.
'He didn’t want to get married again'
The couple had officially broken up by 2019. "He didn’t want to get married again," a source told People at the time. Mellencamp had already tied the knot three times. The source stated, "He loves her, but marriage never seemed to be a part of it. It’s unclear how important a marriage was to Meg. But they spent a lot of time together and it’s too bad they split. They really got along so well together."
According to E! News, Ryan became "exhausted" with the relationship, leading to its termination. "There were so many ups and downs and it wasn't healthy," a source claimed. "She just needed to get out and not be in that environment anymore ... She cares about John but it was time for her to move on. She knows she made the right decision and is happy."
