John Farnham has been in the nation’s hearts and on their minds ever since he was diagnosed with cancer in August 2022.
The beloved Australian singer was raced into surgery after a cancerous tumour was found in his mouth, sparking fears he may never sing again.
Since then, the ‘You’re The Voice’ singer has been on a long road to recovery, surrounded by his tight-knit family circle.
In a rare video posted to Instagram for the Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day in 2024, John’s sons Rob and James shared new details about his journey.
“The last couple of years have been difficult on our family,” Rob said in the video. “Our father was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.
“It started as an ulcer in his mouth, which turned out to be cancer. It was a tough time for our family.”
“Our Dad wouldn’t be here without cancer research. That’s why days like Daffodil Day are important,” James added.
John’s famously private wife, Jill, shared a few more details about the singer’s journey, penning two chapters in his tell-all memoir The Voice Inside.
The candid contribution saw Jill admit she’s not sure if her husband will ever sing again.
“I don’t know if John will sing again,” she wrote. “It just depends. Because of the radiation, that whole side of his face is rock hard. The flesh, the muscle, the tendons, none of it is supple.
“The surgeons need to work out how to loosen it all, so we have to be patient. He’s disappointed, naturally, because he may not be up on a stage again and he loved that.”
How is John Farnham’s health now?
Speaking to TV WEEK at the TV WEEK Logie Awards on August 18, the star’s son James said John was “happy, healthy, smiling”, in news that will come as a relief to the star’s legions of fans.
“He will be 100 per cent watching from home tonight with mum,” his other son Rob added. “He’ll be having an early dinner and then will be settling in to watch it.”
Previously, James and Rob had said the music legend was “doing really well”.
“Every day is another step forward, as it is for everyone with cancer,” Rob told Seven’s Sunrise program on August 16.
“He’s just got to keep moving forward and keeping positive, keep driving forward. That’s what it’s all about.”
What type of cancer does John Farnham have?
John Farnham was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2022 and underwent life-saving surgery to remove a tumour.
The operation took 11 hours to complete and he then had to undergo eight gruelling weeks of radiation treatment.
He was declared cancer-free in 2023.
In October 2023, his wife Jill set the record straight on surgery details in the new memoir.
“And, just for the record, they didn’t take his jaw,” she wrote. “I know lots of people think that’s what happened, but in the end they removed the cancer from his cheek and they also scraped his jaw to make sure it hadn’t gotten into his bones.
“Thankfully the cancer wasn’t in his bones, which was great news, and so he’s still got his bottom jaw, even though the radiation has messed that up a little bit.
“It was a traumatic time for all of us, but we got through it,” she added. “Now he’s back to eating, which is a good sign, but he can’t open his mouth very far, so it’s hard.”
Who is John Farnham married to?
John Farnham met his wife, Jillian Billman, when they both appeared in the musical Charlie Girl in the 1970s. Farnham once said it was love at first sight for him.
“Jillie came out of the theatre and I saw her … At that stage she had very long dark hair, down to her very petite bum, and I was history.
“It took me about three months to get a kiss. We started to go out together and it naturally happened.”
The pair married on 11 April, 1973, and have been together ever since.
Jill Farnham said in a statement after her husband’s surgery that the family was overwhelmed by the love and support shown by fans.
“We have received many thousands of messages via the We Love You John website since it was launched,” she said, referring a website created for fans to send the singer well wishes and receive updates on his health.
“Being surrounded by this much love and support has meant the world to us all. Thank you.”
How many children does John Farnham have?
Farnham has two sons, Robert, 44, and James, 36.
Like his famous father, Rob is a musician, and James is a concert audio technician, so the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree.
James has had his own health issues in recent times, announcing on social media in early 2024 that he had diverticular disease.
“Last year, just as Dad was recovering from his cancer surgeries, I also had major surgery to deal with diverticular disease that had caused perforations in my bowel,” he explained.
“The surgery saved my life but it has left me with a stoma – a surgically created opening in the abdomen that allows me to poo … into a temporary colostomy bag. With any luck, I will be receiving my reversal surgery in the next couple of months.”
In happier news, his older brother Robert recently married his “favourite person in the universe,” wife Melissa Kelly.
He posted images from the wedding which gave fans a chance to see how John Farnham was doing.
“Congratulations … it’s so nice to see your Dad, he looks fantastic!” one fan wrote.
“Love to you all.”
“Beautiful wedding and your Dad looks great,” wrote another.
“Love to your darling Dad, there is so much love out there for him,” said a third.
How can I watch John Farnham: Finding The Voice?
John Farnham: Finding The Voice is screening on 7plus.
