John Mellencamp is turning his 1982 song, "Jack & Diane," into a musical.
Speaking to Harry Smith on NBC's Today show, he says, "Every problem that this country's going through today is in that musical... My ambitions are set very high. As close to Steinbeck as we can get it -- in today's world, with these two kids."In other words, it's not a jukebox musical.
This will be his second stab at the stage following Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, his musical collaboration with Stephen King.
In addition to the musical, he will be on tour in February, March and April, and he will marry actress Meg Ryan, who he says is the "funniest woman" he ever met.