Jimmy Barnes has shared the heartfelt story of reuniting with his long-lost daughter, Katy Lee Carroll, after she became the victim of a series of anonymous, harassing phone calls.
Barnes first learned about Katy five years ago, and since then, his family has lovingly welcomed her into their lives. What began as an unforeseen discovery has blossomed into a touching family reunion, filled with warmth and connection.
“Christmas is all about family and we would like to introduce my daughter Katy Lee, who has been in our lives for the past five years,” Barnes shared in a statement from Thailand, where the family is currently enjoying a well-deserved break.
“Katy is a wonderful woman and since discovering that I was her biological father, our family and extended family have loved getting to know her. It’s been heartwarming to see good relationships growing with her sisters and brothers.”
“We have always respected her very strong desire to keep her family life private and will continue to support her.”
“I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas. I look forward to bringing you all more music in the New Year.”
Katy Lee Carroll shared her thoughts in a compelling statement, “Five years ago, I discovered that my biological father is Jimmy Barnes”.
“Since that moment, I’ve been embraced by the Barnes family with love, warmth and incredible understanding.
Carroll reportedly received hundreds of phone calls over several days from an anonymous caller, repeatedly asking if she was Barnes’ daughter.
The Coffs Harbour real estate agent has now urged the media to respect her privacy, emphasizing the need to protect both herself and her children’s wellbeing.
“I want to be open about something very personal,” she said.
“This journey of discovering my family has brought up a lot of complex emotions and I ask for your understanding as I navigate this alongside the joy of reconnecting with my father and his family.”
Carroll has been connecting with her family and siblings which include David Campbell, Mahalia, Jackie, Eliza-Jane, and Elly-May Barnes by joining them at gigs and family gatherings, creating memorable moments together.