Musician John Mellencamp and wife separate after 20 years

Musician John Mellencamp and wife separate after 20 years

2010-12-31 10:34:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA (BNO NEWS) -- Musician John Mellencamp and longtime wife, model Elaine Irwin Mellencamp, on Thursday announced they were splitting up, TMZ reported.

According to reports, it is unclear whether they have filed for divorce, but the couple said they are "proud of their 20 years together and are very happy with their accomplishments both as parents and as a family."

The couple married in 1992, shortly after Elaine was hired to appear on John Mellencamp's 1991 album cover of 'Whenever We Wanted.' Together they had two children who are both now teenagers.

They also announced that they would continue raising their children together in Indiana.

John Mellencamp, 59, who previously appeared under the name Johnny Cougar, has been nominated 13 times for a Grammy award throughout his 34-year musical career. Of the nominations, he has won one. In March 2008, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Elaine Mellencamp, 41, has modeled for Victoria's Secret and Calvin Klein, among several others. In addition, she has appeared on several magazine covers. She is currently a spokeswoman for Almay Cosmetics.

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