The Real Reason Meg Ryan Dumped John Mellencamp:

The actress ends their on-again, off-again romance — for good.

The actress breaks their engagement, ending their on-again, offagain relationship after eight years. Find out what pushed her to leave the musician — this time for good.

HURT So Good.” Meg Ryan dropped a bomb on John Mellencamp — not only was she calling off their engagement, she was also ending their relationship after eight years together. “Meg agonized over this decision,” a confidant tells Star. “She’s going through heartbreak now to avoid even more intense heartbreak later.” The When Harry Met Sally star, 57, announced she and the musician, 68, had gotten engaged last November, but they never agreed on where they'd settle down. John wanted to remain in his hometown in Indiana, while Meg preferred New York City. “New York just isn’t John,” a friend says. “The noise, the hustle and bustle grate on him.”

Another bone of contention: Meg wasn’t looking forward to being left alone when John hit the road. “John doesn’t go on quick tours. He stays out there for months at a time,” continues the pal. “Meg wants someone who’s going to be by her side.” Meanwhile, his temper — which caused the two to split up several times throughout their time together — didn’t help: “She learned to deal with it, but she always felt like she had to be on guard.” Still, coming to terms with the fact that they wouldn’t have their happily ever after wasn’t easy for the actress, who divorced Dennis Quaid in 2001 after 10 years together. “Meg will always love John, but she has to plot out her life the way she feels is best,” says the first source. “She feels it’s better they go their separate ways."