Before John Mellencamp became a famous rock star, he was just a teenage boy trying to figure out life. And standing beside him during those early, uncertain years was a young woman named Priscilla Esterline. Most people know John Mellencamp from hit songs like “Jack and Diane” or his high-profile relationships with Meg Ryan and Christie Brinkley. But not many know about the quiet, strong woman who was part of his very first chapter.
Priscilla Esterline, John Mellencamp’s first wife, lived a life far away from the cameras. She didn’t chase fame. She wasn’t in magazines. But she played a big role in his early life — a part of his story that often gets forgotten.
In this article, we’re going to talk about who Priscilla Esterline was, what her life was like with John Mellencamp, and why her story still matters today.
Priscilla Esterline Quick Bio
| Full Name | Priscilla Esterline |
| Known As | John Mellencamp’s ex-wife |
| Date of Birth | November 1, 1954 |
| Place of Birth | Tecumseh, Michigan, USA |
| Date of Death | September 8, 2012 |
| Age at Death | 57 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Height | 5’5″ (165 cm) |
| Weight | 121 lbs (55 kg) |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Ex-Husband | John Mellencamp |
| Marriage Year | 1970 |
| Divorce Year | 1981 |
| Children | 2 (Michelle and Adam) |
| Grandchildren | 4 (Elexis, Colin, Hannah, Grace) |
| Known For | First wife of John Mellencamp |
| Net Worth | Around $500,000 (at death) |
| Life After Divorce | Lived quietly in Michigan |
| Cause of Death | Not publicly shared |
Who Was Priscilla Esterline?
Priscilla Esterline was not a celebrity. She didn’t sing on stage or walk the red carpet. But she was an important part of John Mellencamp’s life before the fame ever started.
She was born on November 1, 1954, in a small town called Tecumseh, Michigan. Life there was simple and quiet — the kind of place where everyone knows each other and families are close. That’s the kind of life Priscilla grew up with.
She wasn’t flashy or loud. People described her as kind, thoughtful, and very grounded. She believed in family, loyalty, and living with honesty. Even when life got hard, she stayed calm and steady — and that’s something that stayed with her through the years.
Early Life in Michigan
Priscilla grew up in a hardworking family. Her parents, La Vern Richard Creger and Arvilla Covell Creger, raised her along with her brother and sister. They lived a simple life, not rich, but full of strong values.
Not much is known about her school life, and that’s because she never tried to be in the spotlight. She wasn’t chasing fame. She wasn’t trying to stand out. She just wanted a normal life — and that’s exactly what she had, until one day, something unexpected happened.
One day, at a local party, Priscilla met a young man named John Mellencamp. He was still in high school, full of energy and dreams. She was three years older, already working and living on her own. But even with their age difference, something clicked between them.
How She Met John Mellencamp
Sometimes, love shows up when you least expect it. For Priscilla Esterline, that moment came at a party. She met John Mellencamp, a young teenager who was still figuring out his path in life. At the time, Priscilla already had a job and her own apartment — pretty rare for someone so young.
Even though she was more mature in some ways, she was also down-to-earth and fun to be around. She didn’t look down on John for being younger. Instead, they connected quickly. Within just a few weeks, they started dating.
Their relationship moved fast. It was exciting, passionate, and full of adventure. They didn’t worry about the future or plan too far ahead. They were just living in the moment — two young people enjoying life and falling in love.
But life had a surprise waiting for them. One that would change everything.
Teenage Marriage and Pregnancy
In 1970, Priscilla found out she was pregnant. She was just 19 years old at the time, and John was only 18. Back then, having a child outside of marriage brought a lot of pressure, especially in small towns.
So, the couple made a quick and bold decision. They ran away and got married, crossing the state line to Louisville, Kentucky, where marriage laws were more relaxed. It wasn’t a big wedding. There were no fancy clothes, no guests. Just a police officer and a secretary stood as witnesses.
That same year, Priscilla gave birth to their daughter, Michelle Suzanne Mellencamp, on December 4, 1970. Priscilla and John were now teenage parents, trying to figure out life together while raising a baby. It wasn’t easy — but they gave it their best.
Life as John Mellencamp’s First Wife
The early years of their marriage were hard. They didn’t have much money. Sometimes, they had to live in places without running water. They moved a lot and didn’t always know where they would end up next. But Priscilla tried to keep things together.
While John chased his dream of becoming a singer, Priscilla stayed home and cared for their baby. She made sure Michelle had food, love, and a stable home — even when things around them felt unstable.
It wasn’t just the lack of money that made things tough. John’s mother, Marilyn Mellencamp, wasn’t happy about the marriage. She believed Priscilla had taken her son away from the family. That kind of pressure can hurt any relationship, and for a young couple like Priscilla and John, it made things even harder.
Still, Priscilla stayed strong. She didn’t give up on her family, even when it felt like the world was against them.
Raising Their Daughter, Michelle Mellencamp
Being a mother became Priscilla’s main focus. While John was away playing shows or trying to get his music heard, she raised Michelle mostly on her own. It wasn’t the easiest life, but she gave it everything she had.
Michelle was the center of Priscilla’s world. She made sure her daughter grew up with love, even if they didn’t have a lot of money. Every decision she made was to protect and care for her child.
As John started to get more attention for his music, he spent even more time away from home. And that left Priscilla to handle everything else. She did the job of two people — not because she had to, but because she wanted her daughter to grow up safe, loved, and strong.
The Struggles in Their Marriage
By the late 1970s, John Mellencamp’s music career was starting to take off. He was spending more time on the road and meeting more people in the music world. And like many young stars, he started to drift away from home.
In later interviews, John admitted to cheating during this time. He said that being in a rock band made it hard to stay loyal. He once joked, “There’s a reason so many rockstars get divorced.” But for Priscilla, it wasn’t a joke — it was real pain.
Still, she stayed with him through the ups and downs. She believed in their family. But after years of trying to hold it together, things finally reached a breaking point.
Divorce After 11 Years Together
After more than a decade of trying, Priscilla Esterline and John Mellencamp finally made the hard choice to part ways. Their marriage ended in 1981, but it wasn’t filled with anger or drama. They had simply grown apart. The pressures of fame, long tours, and John’s rising career had changed their life too much.
John had already started seeing Victoria Granucci, the woman who would become his second wife. But Priscilla didn’t hold on to hate or jealousy. In fact, she did something very kind — she helped Victoria pick her wedding dress. That moment showed the kind of person Priscilla really was — kind, thoughtful, and at peace.
After the divorce, Priscilla focused fully on her daughter Michelle. She had full custody, and she stayed out of the public eye. She didn’t try to chase attention or money from being John Mellencamp’s ex-wife. She just went back to living a quiet, normal life.
Priscilla Esterline’s Life After the Divorce
While John Mellencamp’s fame grew, Priscilla lived a very different life. She stayed in Michigan, raised her child, and later had another baby — a son named Adam Esterline. She never shared much about her life in interviews or on TV. That was never her style.
Priscilla chose peace. She didn’t want the spotlight. She didn’t post on social media or try to tell her side of the story. She just wanted to be a good mom and take care of her family. And that’s exactly what she did.
Even though people didn’t hear much about her, those who knew her say she was gentle, strong, and full of love. She gave her children a life filled with care, even if it was far away from the bright lights of fame.
Becoming a Proud Grandmother
Life moved on, and Priscilla Esterline became a grandma at a young age. In 1989, her daughter Michelle had her first child, Elexis, when she was just 18. That made Priscilla a grandmother at age 37, and John Mellencamp a grandpa at 38.
Over the years, Michelle had more children — Colin in 1994, Hannah in 1996, and Grace in 1998. Priscilla was always there, supporting her daughter and helping raise her grandkids. She didn’t care about titles or being known. What mattered to her was being there for her family.
Even though her name wasn’t in headlines, Priscilla’s love lived on through the people around her. She passed down her values — quiet strength, kindness, and putting family first.
Priscilla Esterline’s Death and Legacy
Sadly, Priscilla Esterline passed away on September 8, 2012, at the age of 57. Her cause of death was never shared with the public. And just like she lived, her passing was quiet and private.
There were no big news stories. No public statements. But her family felt the loss deeply. She had been the calm, steady heart of the family — the one who stood by them when life got hard.
Even in death, Priscilla was remembered with love. She left behind her children, her grandchildren, and a story that deserves to be known. She wasn’t famous, but she was important. She was part of something bigger — the real, human side of a rock star’s journey.
What John Mellencamp Said About Her
Over the years, John Mellencamp has talked about his first marriage. He has admitted that he wasn’t always loyal, and that the rockstar life made it hard to be a good husband. But he never spoke badly of Priscilla. In fact, he showed respect and honesty when speaking about her.
He once joked in an interview, “What other reason would a guy pick up a guitar as a teenager?” — hinting at the temptations of fame. But behind the joke was a truth. He knew he had made mistakes. And he also knew that Priscilla Esterline had been there from the very beginning.
She stood by him when no one else believed in him. She raised their child while he chased dreams. And even though their paths split, she helped him start the life he always wanted.
Why Priscilla Esterline’s Story Still Matters
In today’s world, it’s easy to think only the loudest stories matter. But Priscilla Esterline’s life proves something different. She didn’t need fame to be important. She didn’t need cameras to leave a mark. Her quiet strength made all the difference.
She was John Mellencamp’s first wife, yes. But more than that, she was a loving mother, a loyal partner during the hard years, and a strong woman who made her own path. Her story matters because it’s real. It’s about love, sacrifice, and staying kind even when life gets tough.
For fans of John Mellencamp, knowing about Priscilla adds a deeper layer to his music. Songs about small towns, heartbreak, and real life — maybe they wouldn’t have happened without someone like her behind the scenes.
Final Thoughts
Not every important story is loud. Some are quiet, like the life of Priscilla Esterline. She never looked for fame, but she helped shape the early life of one of America’s biggest rock stars. She lived simply, loved deeply, and gave her best to her children and grandchildren.
In the end, her story is not just about being John Mellencamp’s ex-wife. It’s about being the kind of person who makes a difference — not with noise, but with heart.
And that’s something truly worth remembering.
(FAQs)
Is there an obituary for Priscilla Esterline?
There is. But it didn’t say much. When she passed away in 2012, her family kept things very private.
How old was Priscilla Esterline when she died?
She was 57 years old when she died. Her birthday was November 1, 1954, and she passed away on September 8, 2012.
Where is Priscilla Esterline now?
Sadly, Priscilla passed away many years ago. She is no longer living, and her cause of death was never shared.
How much money did Priscilla Esterline have?
At the time of her death, she had around $500,000. Most of it came from her divorce from John Mellencamp.
Did Priscilla Esterline ever try to be famous?
Not at all. Even after being married to a rock star, she stayed away from fame and never spoke to the media.
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