Australian Idol star Courtney Murphy’s sad health update

“No end in sight”: Courtney Murphy – who became a household name on the hit reality series – has issued a sad update for fans.

Australian Idol star Courtney Murphy has issued a sad update on his cancer battle, nearly one year on from his diagnosis.

The musician, 45, who discovered he had late-stage bowel cancer in March 2024, told Perth Now that “there is no end in sight” as he continues to undergo treatment in a bid to fight the disease.

“It’s nearly a year on now from my diagnosis and there’s no end in sight as far as treatment goes,” he told the publication.

“I’ve told my doctors to throw everything they’ve got at it.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes, I’m going to keep looking forward to putting out the next album.”

Murphy found fame after finishing in third place on the 2004 season of Australian Idol, behind Anthony Callea and winner Casey Donovan.

Murphy (far left) with Idol hosts James Mathison and Osher Gunsberg.

He came in third.

The father-of-three landed a role in Queen musical We Will Rock You in 2018 and has been performing both as a solo musician and in a group – The Murphy Brothers – with his two siblings over the years.

Last April, his family launched a GoFundMe page to help support him during his battle with cancer.

Murphy said there is “no end in sight” for his treatment. Picture: Facebook

“Our beautiful brother Courtney Murphy is in for the fight of his life,” they wrote.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share Court has been diagnosed with advanced stage bowel cancer. It’s very serious.

“Many of you will know Courtney for his amazing musical talent and his big voice,’ continued the heart-wrenching statement.

“We think it’s fair to say he’s been entertaining West Aussies for the best part of 30 years – either as a wide-eyed kid on Australian Idol, on stage in We Will Rock You, or just gigging with us – his brothers – in Murphy’s Lore and The Murphy Brothers.

“As a self-employed musician with a wife and three young children, Courtney will not be able to work for the foreseeable future which leaves his young family fighting much harder than we want them to be.

“Anyone who knows Courtney knows that his heart is as a big as his voice and we’ve set up this GoFundMe page in the hope that we can ease some of the burden on his young family.”

Adding to the devastation for his family, the shock news of Murphy’s diagnosis came just a couple of months after his father, Kim, died following a short battle with an aggressive brain tumour.