John Farnham blown away by Celine Dion’s friendship as family give health update

John Farnham’s sons have revealed details about their father’s cancer, while the music icon is deeply touched by the support of a superstar friend.

John Farnham’s sons have shared that their father is making encouraging progress in his cancer recovery ahead of his tribute at the Logies.

Farnham has endured a very private battle against cancer, with the 73-year-old hospitalised earlier this year after he developed a chest infection following surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in his mouth.

The Australian music icon’s incredible career will be celebrated at this year’s Logie Awards on Sunday with a special performance by two of the country’s biggest singing stars.

The documentary John Farnham: Finding The Voice, which highlights his extraordinary story and incredible legacy, is nominated this year in the category of Best Factual or Documentary Program.

Farnham and his wife Jillian Billman with family on their son Rob Farnham's wedding day. Picture: Instagram

“He’s doing really well. Every day is another step as it is for everyone with cancer,” Robert Farnham said.

“And he’s just gotta keep moving forward and keeping positive, and you know, keep driving forward. That’s what it’s about.”

The brothers also said their father had been left surprised by French-Canadian superstar Celine Dion paying tribute to Farnham in her documentary.

Dion said the Aussie superstar was one of her “favorite singers of all time” and got emotional watching their duet.

“He was pretty impressed. It was pretty cool for him to see it. He was quite surprised she spoke about him for so long and he was the only singer she spoke about in the whole doco,” James Farnham said.

Rob Farnham wit his father John Farnham. Picture: Instagram

Robert and James also revealed they are now ambassadors for Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day on Friday, which is a national day of hope for a cancer-free future.

“Given the fact that dad went through a brutal cancer, we were asked by Daffodil Day to be ambassadors. We jumped at

the chance. It’s such an amazing opportunity to push that forward,” Robert said.

“And the things that they do for fundraising and research, it helps recovery process, helps family, helps the victim you know, the people that have the cancer.

Gaynor Wheatley with James and Rob Farnham. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“Cancer is one of those things that doesn’t just affect the person going through it, it affects everyone else around them.”

Farnham has a long and storied history with the Logies.

He won Best Teenage Personality on TV five years running from 1969 — 1973 and collected the trophy for Most Popular Music Video on five occasions in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Singers Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy will join forces in a special celebration of Farnham’s career and achievements and the runaway success of the Logie-nominated documentary.

Originally published as John Farnham blown away by Celine Dion’s friendship as family give health update