John Farnham in hospital after shock cancer diagnosis

Olivia Newton-John’s niece Tottie Goldsmith shares her hopes for John Farnham, as tributes flow for the Aussie music legend.

Cancer treatment advocate Tottie Goldsmith hopes John Farnham takes inspiration from her famous aunt Olivia Newton-John and becomes a “thriver” in his battle against the disease.

Beloved singer Farnham and pop superstar Olivia Newton-John, who also dedicated herself to cancer wellness programs and treatment at her ONJ Centre in Melbourne, were close friends, and occasional duet partners.

Newton-John died from cancer on August 8.

Farnham had a cancerous tumour removed from his mouth after an 11 hour surgery at a Melbourne hospital on Tuesday.

Goldsmith, who is an ambassador for Newton-John’s annual Walk For Wellness, told News Corp: “I know John will take a leaf out of Livvy’s book, stay positive and give it everything. He’ll be a thriver.”

Kate Ceberano also paid tribute to her long-time collaborator Farnham, after the Australian music legend revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer.

The 73-year-old was admitted to hospital on Tuesday morning for surgery and ongoing treatment.

“Sending my most fervent best wishes to @johnfarnham,” Ceberano said in a tweet alongside photos of the pair singing together. “Stay strong, we love you John xx.”

Sending my most fervent best wishes to @johnfarnham “sleep and shall sooth you, calm you and Anoint you, myrrh for your hot forehead….don’t you know everything’s alright yes, everything’s fine. And we want you to sleep well tonight” Stay strong, we love you john xx pic.twitter.com/IIvAI7cUfU

— Kate Ceberano (@KateCeberano) August 23, 2022

The singer quoted lyrics from the 1992 song Everything’s All right, which she sang with Farnham and Noiseworks’ Jon Steven for Jesus Christ Superstar.

“Sleep and shall sooth (sic) you, calm you and Anoint you, myrrh for your hot forehead....don’t you know everything’s alright yes, everything’s fine. And we want you to sleep well tonight” the quote read.

The shocking news was made public in a statement from the Farnham family on Tuesday.

The statement was issued by Gaynor Wheatley, wife of Farnham’s late manager Glenn Wheatley, and talent manager David Wilson.

“We recently discovered that John has a cancerous growth,” the statement said.

Farnham added: “Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me. The one thing I know for sure is that we have the very best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria, and we can all be grateful for that. I know I am”.

The family has asked that their privacy be respected at this time, but released a statement after Farnham’s 12-hour surgery.

“John’s surgery began at 8.00am this morning and was successfully completed at 7.30pm tonight. He has now been transferred to ICU and is in a stable condition,’ the statement said.

John Farnham pictured with his wife, Jill, and sons, Rob and James.

Friends of the singer had been told he was unwell a couple of weeks ago.

Celebrities have taken to social media to wish the singer well.

US singer Richard Marx tweeted: “Sending much love, strength and healing to my friend the great #JohnFarnham and to his lovely family.” US singer and songwriter Emmaline responded: “The Voice! #johnfarnham”

Kiss founding member Paul Stanley, who is in Australia for the band’s farewell tour, also wished Farnham well.“John… You ARE the voice!!! We are all sending you our prayers, energy and light for a full recovery,” Stanley tweeted.

Studio 10 co-host Angela Bishop posted: “Like so many Australians are doing today, I send all my love and best wishes to John and his family”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also had a message for Farnham and his family.

“All Australians love John Farnham and we wish all the best for him and his family at this time; it is difficult news for people to have received this morning,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday afternoon.

“John Farnham has been and continues to be a great Australian. He has not only provided entertainment for Australians over many decades, he also has been a contributor to the nation. When people need to raise money for bushfire recovery of anything else, John Farnham is always there and Australians’ thoughts are with John Farnham and his family today.”

Farnham’s cancer battle follows a health scare three years ago, when he was forced to cancel an Australian tour due to a severe kidney infection.

“Unfortunately I hadn’t told anybody I’d given up! But 70 feels good,” he said in 2019.

“Age isn’t something I’ve ever worried about — we all get older.”

“I didn’t realise until too late. I’d been feeling uncomfortable. My wife Jill had been telling me to go to the doctor,” he told the Herald Sun in 2019.

John Farnham performing in Adelaide back 1991.

“I was very unwell there for a while,” but added he was “good now” and “it gave me a wake-up call to look after myself a bit more.”

The kidney infection developed after Farnham underwent a surgical procedure three months prior.

Since the 2019 health scare, Farnham said he’d made changes to his lifestyle, including quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol.

Back then, when Farnham celebrated his 70th, his gifts included a 70-year-old bottle of whiskey and “bucketloads” of cigars.

John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John perform during Fire Fight Australia at ANZ Stadium, Sydney in 2020. Picture: Getty Images

It has been a tough year for Whispering Jack, who was shattered after the loss of his lifelong mate and manager Glenn Wheatley in February, and then his beloved sister-in-music Olivia Newton-John earlier this month.

The Farnham family posted their “love and sympathies to Olivia’s family” after she lost a long battle with breast cancer.

The family added: “Behind that iconic smile was a tenacious fighter. A beautiful voice and a loyal friend. She will be greatly missed”.

Farnham and his family have always maintained a very private life away from touring, with the entertainer preferring to ride his horses than attend red carpet events.

The King of the Big Gigs in Australia, Farnham’s last performance in February 2020 ahead of the pandemic shutdown of touring was to headline the Fire Fight bushfire benefit in Sydney.

He was joined by Newton-John to sing their signature duet and then by Queen’s Brian May and First Nations artist Mitch Tambo for a soaring rendition of You’re The Voice.

His 1986 smash hit comeback album Whispering Jack remains the second highest selling album (in the pre-digital era) having sold more than 1.6 million copies – just behind Meatloaf’s Bat Out Of Hell.

Originally published as John Farnham in hospital after shock cancer diagnosis