American singer John Mellencamp is divorcing Elaine, his wife of 18 years, and has started dating Meg Ryan. Did Meg Ryan break up the marriage?
John Mellencamp filed for divorce on January 14, 2011 in Indiana. He and his wife Elaine, a model, married in 1992. John Mellencamp did not immediately issue any public statement or other announcement of the reasons for the divorce. It is known, however, that he has begun dating Hollywood actress Meg Ryan. [Source: Marx, Linda. “John Mellencamp Files for Divorce,” People.com, 1/19/11. Downloaded from: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20458820,00.html]
While the fact that Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp began dating in the fall of 2010 might imply that he is leaving Elaine for Meg, the reality is that John and Elaine separated in September 2010, apparently before the relationship with Meg Ryan began. It is also worth noting that the couple has a prenuptial agreement, meaning that the divorce may not be as contentious as many high-profile divorces have been in the past. [Source: “John Mellencamp Files for Divorce, Prenup in Place,” US Magazine, 1/20/11. Downloaded from: http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/john-mellencamp-files-for-divorce-prenup-in-place-2011201]
So the chronology does not provide any evidence that Meg Ryan might not have broken up John Mellencamp’s marriage (because the couple was already separated when Ryan became involved with John). Based on the above-cited information, the history goes like this: In September 2010, John and Elaine separated. Later that fall (probably within a month or two of the separation), John began dating Meg Ryan. Then, in January 2011, John filed for a divorce from Elaine.
But when did John Mellencamp first become friends with Meg Ryan? The answer is unclear, but the couple reportedly were first spotted together publicly in October 2010. An US Magazine source claims that Meg Ryan did not break up Mellencamp’s marriage and that she “came into the picture much later.” [Source: PIC: New Couple John Mellencamp, Meg Ryan Step Out, US Magazine, 1/5/11. Downloaded from: http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/pic-new-couple-john-mellencamp-meg-ryan-step-out-201151]
Sources
“John Mellencamp Files for Divorce, Prenup in Place,” US Magazine, 1/20/11. Downloaded from: http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/john-mellencamp-files-for-divorce-prenup-in-place-2011201
Marx, Linda. “John Mellencamp Files for Divorce,” People.com, 1/19/11. Downloaded from: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20458820,00.html
PIC: New Couple John Mellencamp, Meg Ryan Step Out, US Magazine, 1/5/11. Downloaded from: http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/pic-new-couple-john-mellencamp-meg-ryan-step-out-201151
