BREAKING: John Farnham hospitalised following shock cancer diagnosis

Legendary Australian singer John Farnham has been admitted to hospital for surgery and treatment after the You’re the Voice hitmaker was diagnosed with cancer.

The singer’s family released a statement announcing that “a cancerous growth” had been discovered and he had been admitted to hospital in Victoria on Tuesday, August 23 “for surgery and ongoing treatment”.

Farnham, 73, also issued a statement where he expressed his gratitude for having “the best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria”.

“Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me,” he said.

“The one thing I know for sure is that we have the best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria, and we can all be grateful for that. I know I am.”

Farnham is widely considered one of Australia’s most popular performers and is known for his highly successful 1986 album Whispering Jack which became the biggest-selling Australian album of all time by a local artist and held the top spot on the charts for 25 weeks. In the same year his solo single You’re the Voice also reached the number one spot.

Farnham’s talent and musical success have seen him recognised with 19 ARIA awards, and an induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2003. He also spent five years in a row as the King of Pop as voted by TV Week readers.

It’s not the first time Farnham has faced serious health concerns, in 2019 the singer was forced to cancel a number of performances after contracting an infection.

Farnham’s manager, the late Glenn Wheatley, told The Herald Sun at the time that the singer’s health was “100 per cent” but “we just have to make sure he’s ready to get back on the stage”.

Following the news of Farnham’s most recent diagnosis, fans and entertainment figures alike gathered to wish Farnham all the best.

The “human headline”, Derryn Hinch was among the first to convey his shock while sending his love to Farnham and his family.

Shocked by John Farnham’s cancer news. Thoughts are with you and Jill, mate. Jacki sends love.

— Derryn Hinch (@HumanHeadline) August 22, 2022

Sending all my love and best wishes to John Farnham, who has just been diagnosed with cancer. Xx

— Bethany Williams ???????????????? (@BethanyinCBR) August 22, 2022

Ok! Dear Dog, God or whoever, you have your trifecta of Aussie Voices this year, You don’t need the Quadie!
Leave John Farnham here for a couple more farewell tours!

— Christine Marks (@CJM658) August 22, 2022

#JohnFarnham
Honourable John Farnham

I hope your operation and treatment of cancer goes well and hope for your speedy recovery. We hope to have another you are the voice concert in Brisbane.@johnfarnham @JacksPlaceJF

— GP (@happy_chirpy) August 22, 2022

More to come as this story develops.