John Mellencamp tour celebrates his timeless hits, blending classic favorites with fresh energy for an unforgettable live music experience across iconic U.S. venues this summer.
John Mellencamp tour is unique, starting with a promotional video featuring Academy Award winner Sean Penn—something few musicians can claim. On Wednesday, the 74-year-old iconic artist and Indiana native shared his plans for a 19-date tour, set to showcase what could be the most wide-ranging collection of his biggest hits in recent years. The “Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits” will see Mellencamp performing at amphitheaters and outdoor sheds across the U.S., including venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Xfinity Center, and Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia.
John Mellencamp tour kicks off with a short film, serving as a tour trailer, featuring Mellencamp sitting in a diner with Penn. In this promotional video, the musician expresses uncertainty about starting a “greatest hits tour.” Penn responds, “Heaven forbid you let fans hear the songs that shaped their lives. I can’t see you doing that. Maybe even let yourself enjoy it. Just because they were No. 1 doesn’t mean they lack artistic value.”
John Mellencamp at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, California
Photo credit: Missvain, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
From 1979 to 1996, Mellencamp had twenty-two songs make it into Billboard’s Top 40. Out of these, ten reached the Top 10, with “Jack & Diane” as his most successful, staying at No. 1 for four weeks in 1982. During his shows, Mellencamp typically plays crowd favorites like “Pink Houses,” “Hurts So Good,” “Small Town,” and “Lonely Ol’ Night,” blending them with some of his newer songs. However, there are a few hits he hasn’t performed live in a long time. He last played “I Need a Lover” in 2005, while his cover of Van Morrison’s “Wild Nights” hasn’t been heard live since 1997. “Rumbleseat” hasn’t appeared in a setlist since 1992, and he last sang “R.O.C.K. in the USA (A Salute to ’60s Rock)” back in 2014. Interestingly, he’s never performed “Rooty Toot Toot” live.
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The concerts this summer will feel like the jukebox plays at the diner where the two friends are sitting in the promo. It’ll feature Mellencamp’s most popular songs, including hits like “Jack and Diane” and possibly even “Authority Song” or “Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First).” In the promotional video, a waitress with a name tag saying “Diane” walks up to scold the two stubborn men for smoking. As she does, the jukebox starts playing “Jack & Diane,” and the other “customers” in the diner start singing along.
Mellencamp says, “Let’s make it happen.”
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: In the promotional video with Sean Penn, you seem a bit hesitant. Is that hesitation real, or is it more for show?
MELLENCAMP: Around 20 years ago, I had an important talk at Madison Square Garden during a tribute event for Pete Seeger (Editor’s note: this was in 2009). While we were chatting, I asked Pete what he thought about performing in huge venues like that. He gave a careful answer saying it was fine once in a while. I pushed him more and asked about playing in arenas, which was what I was doing a lot of back then. He gave me advice I’ll never forget. “John,” he said thinking it through, “let me tell you something: keep things smaller, but never lose your progress. Don’t try to chase your old successes.” That advice has been the backbone of keeping my career going strong for ten-plus years.
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AP: What made you step away from this two-decade-long pattern?
MELLENCAMP: I wouldn’t call it a total change—it’s more like a temporary break from what I do. Once this greatest hits tour wraps up, I’ll go back to playing in theaters, which has always been my preferred space. When I performed for bigger crowds, I started feeling more like a hype man than a musician. Asking people to join in with the songs they already knew started to feel empty. As someone who sees myself as a musician rather than just an entertainer, that didn’t feel right to me. Outdoor shows can be fun, but they often feel more like a party than a real musical connection.
AP: In the past, a skeptical journalist could have written off this kind of tour as just a money-making scheme. But these are your works, and as a musician, you control how they’re shared. How has the way you see this changed over time?
MELLENCAMP: I’ll be honest here—I feel lucky. I’ve never been driven by money even though I’ve always believed in getting fair pay for what I do. I’ve never worked on anything just to make cash. Sean and I did this promotional thing—it was unscripted—and he said something I agree with. There’s nothing wrong with what we’re doing. I’m not about to apologize for performing my hit songs. It’ll make the crowd happy, and honestly, it’ll make me happy too since it’s been a while. Sure, some critics might say I’m only in this for the money, but I couldn’t care less about what people think when it comes to that.
AP: There are 19 dates planned for this U.S. tour, including stops at venues like Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati and Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan. Do you think there will be more added, or maybe shows outside the country?
MELLENCAMP: I’d say it’s pretty unlikely. I’ve agreed to these shows, and I don’t see myself adding more. When people ask how I feel about touring, I tell them I enjoy the first 20 shows. After that, it changes a lot. It starts feeling more like a duty than something I love.
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AP: Do you think older audiences seem to care less about new songs?
MELLENCAMP: I’m very aware of this happening. When I do live theater shows and play two or three new songs in a row, I can feel the audience’s vibe change. They start to get restless. That’s the moment when you’ve got to make a smart call and bring in a song they know well and connect with.
AP: As an artist, which one of your older hits do you think has stood the test of time the best?
MELLENCAMP: Instead of focusing on the big hits, I find myself drawn to some of the songs I wrote when I was younger. Thinking back, I’m sometimes stunned by where the ideas came from because they’ve lasted through time. “Minutes to Memories” is a good example. A few of those tracks still hold up well. There was a time when I stopped playing “Jack & Diane” altogether. But not too long ago, a bandmate suggested bringing it back. The crowd’s reaction was huge. They sang every single word, which gave me a break to concentrate more on playing the guitar. To prepare for this tour, we are changing how we present “Jack & Diane” by turning it into what some might describe as a mashup. We aim to give it a deeper and more soulful vibe.
AP: Are there any old or well-known songs of yours that you feel uneasy playing or that you’d rather not perform anymore? Maybe some of the big hits?
MELLENCAMP: Not at this moment, which feels lucky, I guess. Though I’ll admit, after doing around 15 shows, I sometimes think, ‘I can’t believe I have to sing this again tonight.’ But right now, I’m keeping an open mind about every song. As Sean said, it’s a good thing to make people happy.
For fans eager to catch Mellencamp on this greatest hits tour, ticketing details will be announced soon. Presale tickets for Citi cardmembers through the Citi Entertainment program will be available before the general on-sale date. Keep an eye on Ticketmaster for more information about tour dates and venues, including stops at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville (a true Hoosier homecoming), Blossom Music Center near Cleveland, and Jones Beach Theater on Long Island. Shows are expected to start at 7:30 PM local time at most venues.
This four-week run promises to be a celebration of Mellencamp’s enduring career and his most beloved songs. Fans in cities such as Kansas City, Missouri, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, can expect to hear Mellencamp’s most popular songs live, possibly including “Small Town,” “Pink Houses,” and “Cherry Bomb.” The tour will also make stops at venues such as the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Georgia, and the newly renamed Acrisure Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Florida. Whether you’re catching the show at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, or the Mystic Lake Amphitheatre in Prior Lake, Minnesota, this tour is set to be a nostalgic journey through Mellencamp’s impressive catalogue of hits.
Source:
David Bauder (January 14, 2026). Minutes to Memories: John Mellencamp rolling out jukebox of his old hits. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/john-cougar-mellencamp-music-tour-bfd2192c57f59df4380c40686e3dd0f1
Header image: John Mellencamp at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, California
Photo credit: Missvain, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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