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Teddi Mellencamp reacted to Brandon Blackstock’s death on the latest episode of her podcast, saying that it “really hit me hard” amid her own journey with melanoma
Blackstock’s death from melanoma comes four months after Mellencamp confirmed she had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
“Those kind of stories hit you hard, when it directly sounds similar to something that you’re going through,” Mellencamp admitted
For Teddi Mellencamp, Brandon Blackstock’s death hit close to home.
On the latest episode of Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 44, admitted Blackstock’s death from melanoma “really hit me hard” amid her own cancer journey.
Blackstock died at age 48 on Aug. 7, four months after Mellencamp confirmed she had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer after her melanoma metastasized to her brain and lungs.
“I wish I would have missed that little detail in the World Wide Web because then I started doing research and they were so quiet about [his diagnosis],” she shared of learning that Blackstock had been living with melanoma for three years. “I mean, we know he passed from melanoma. They announced that.”
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Brandon Blackstock attends the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on Nov. 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California
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Mellencamp and her co-host Tamra Judge went on to speculate about Blackstock’s treatment.
“We’re assuming that it had metastasized,” Judge, 57, said, to which Mellencamp responded, “I was wondering when did it metastasize? Two, like this is just where my head goes from being in the situation, did he decline treatment? Three, there’s so many different ways that this could have happened, and like I have one million [percent] respect their choice to keep it private.”
Judge then suggested that her co-host could “reach out” to Kelly Clarkson, Blackstock’s ex-wife, adding, “And just say for my own [understanding] or maybe not, maybe just not.”
“You have to understand everybody’s different, everybody like maybe he did treatment, maybe he didn’t do treatment,” she continued.
Mellencamp agreed, saying, “Maybe he did immunotherapy? Maybe he did chemotherapy? We don’t know. I don’t know, but those kind of stories hit you hard, when it directly sounds similar to something that you’re going through.”
“It hit me too to be honest with you, I mean I had some talks about it, and you know when I listened to it, it was a three-year battle,” Judge shared. “Then my head starts going places and I want to know more, and there really isn’t any more than that.”
The talent manager died on Aug. 7, a rep for the family confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE the same day.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” the statement read. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollis confirmed Blackstock’s cause of death four days later.
“Brandon Blackstock passed away peacefully at his home in Butte, Montana on August 7th under hospice care surrounded by his family,” Hollis told PEOPLE, confirming that Blackstock’s cause of death was melanoma while the manner of death was natural causes.
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Teddi Mellencamp at iHeartRadio’s 102.7 KIIS FM Wango Tango at Huntington City Beach on May 10, 2025 in Huntington Beach, California
As for Mellencamp, she has undergone immunotherapy, radiation and surgery to treat the tumors following her stage 4 cancer diagnosis in April.
She previously received treatment for melanoma in 2022, and had 17 melanomas, a cancer of the skin, removed.
Last month, the television personality described the emotional toll of living with cancer during an appearance on The Jamie Kern Lima Show.
“There’s a sense of sadness that comes along with not feeling your best,” Mellencamp said. “The dips, the highs and lows, the unknown.”
“I would be lying if I said I also didn’t have a little bit of anger. Why did this happen to me?” she added. “In my mind, I was so healthy. I was taking care of myself. I play sports.”
Read the original article on People
