Calla Lily from The Masked Singer Shares Her Health Journey and Growth Before Her Big Reveal

Calla Lily on ‘The Masked Singer’.
Credit:

Michael Becker/FOX

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the February 4 episode of The Masked Singer.

Key Details

• Calla Lily was unmasked on the Wednesday, February 4 episode of The Masked Singer.
• For her second performance, she sang “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp.
• Calla Lily reported that the show pushed her “out of my comfort zone” and had a positive impact on her mental health during her battle with stage 4 cancer.

The identity of Calla Lily from The Masked Singer has been revealed. During the February 4 episode, Calla Lily was unmasked as Teddi Mellencamp, the daughter of renowned musician John Mellencamp, aligning with the prediction made by judge Jenny McCarthy.

“She’s a big Housewives fan, so I had a feeling [she’d get it],” Teddi noted, having appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills from 2017 to 2020.

Teddi shared that her children—Slate, 12, Cruz, 11, and Dove, 5—immediately recognized her as Calla Lily after her first performance of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song,” a piece especially meaningful to her during her cancer journey.

“I kept it a secret, but the second they watched the first episode, they knew it was me,” Teddi explained. “I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ And they were like, ‘Mom, we know. We’re doing the car singing.'”

Calla Lily; Teddi Mellencamp.

Michael Becker/FOX; Rich Polk/Bravo

In her second performance, Teddi chose to honor her father’s 1982 hit “Jack & Diane.”

“People often say I’m walking in my dad’s shadow or whatever these things people have said in the past on The Housewives,” she remarked. “I’ve always been so proud of my dad. Being able to sing his song, have fun, and receive advice from him was a unique bonding experience.”

Regarding the advice John Mellencamp offered her, Teddi recalled, “He kept it simple: ‘Sing loud and proud—and if you don’t hit the key, don’t worry about it.'” Throughout her cancer journey, she noted, her father has consistently been a source of support.

“He’s consistent,” she stated. “Every day since I’ve been in the hospital, he’s called me. Even on days when I feel like I can’t do anything, I know he calls, and I have the choice to answer or not. Either way, his words have been uplifting. He frequently says, ‘You’re a Mellencamp. Mellencamps can do anything.'”

John and Teddi Mellencamp.

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

Teddi’s battle with cancer began in 2022 when she was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, requiring 17 surgeries for invasive cancer. In April 2025, she revealed that the cancer metastasized to her brain and lungs, necessitating surgery and ongoing immunotherapy.

Participating in The Masked Singer has offered Teddi a moment of joy amid her struggles. “Of course I wanted to do it,” she said. “I also aimed to push myself out of my comfort zone. The mental challenges of dealing with stage 4 cancer can be overwhelming, and this opportunity was invigorating.”

Teddi praised the crew for their supportive environment during filming. “Everybody was so kind and nice,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of feeling safe while overcoming trauma. “From walking up the stairs in a mask to coming down, I felt completely safe the entire time, and I’m grateful because this was the biggest thing I did after returning.”

The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.