Jimmy Barnes, one of Australia’s most iconic rock musicians, is not only known for his powerhouse voice and electrifying performances but also for his remarkable family life with his eight children.
From his early years in working-class Glasgow to his rise to fame in Australia, Jimmy has always placed great importance on family, even amid the chaos of touring and recording. His children, who span a range of ages, have all forged their own paths, some following in their father’s musical footsteps, while others have carved out distinct careers.
In December 2024 the singer announced he had welcomed a daughter into his extended clan, Katy Lee Carroll who has been part of the musician’s life for five years.
As the singer continues to celebrate his newfound family connection, we take a closer look at Barnes’ life with his eight children.
Who is Jimmy Barnes?
Born James Dixon Swan, Jimmy Barnes is an Australian singer of Scottish descent.
At the age of 17, he left a troubled home to join a band that would go on to become Cold Chisel, one of the biggest rock bands in the Australian music industry.
With Cold Chisel, Jimmy racked up 14 Top 40 albums and several chart-topping hits such as Flame Trees, Khe Sanh, Cheap Wine and many, many more.
However, rising tensions between Jimmy, the rest of the band, and their management, led to the group disbanding after a best-selling live concert in December 1983.
Shortly after that, he pursued a solo career. He found incredible success, and 13 out of his 19 solo studio albums to date have made the charts.
Jimmy released a new album in 2021 entitled Flesh and Blood, written mostly during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Debuting at the top of the ARIA Chart, it was Barnes’ 13th number-one album, helping extend his record as the artist with the most number-one albums in that spot.
How many children does Jimmy Barnes have?
Jimmy Barnes is the proud father of eight children – David, Mahalia, Eliza-Jane, Elly-May, Jackie, Amanda, Megan and Katy.
He shares four children (Mahalia, Eliza-Jane, Jackie, and Elly-May) with his current wife, Jane Mahoney, one child (David) with Kim Campbell, and three children (Amanda, Megan & Katy) from previous relationships.
David Campbell
Date of birth: August 6, 1973
Mother: Kim Campbell
Like his father, David Campbell is also a singer and stage performer. He was raised by his maternal grandmother, Joan, believing her to be his mother. He only found out that his ‘sister’ was his real mother when he was 10 years old, and that Jimmy, whom he believed to be a ‘family friend’, was his father.
Speaking on ABC Radio’s Conversations, Jimmy gave insight into what it was like for him when Campbell was a baby.
“David came along, he was born, and it was decided that her mother was going to adopt David, and she brought him up, I wasn’t capable of doing it anyways, I was 16, I was completely out of control,” he admitted.
“By the time I was ready to really be a parent was many, many, years later. But I always knew I had a son, and I would go and visit, I wasn’t allowed to say I was his dad because the grandmother just wanted to protect him, I guess, but it was really difficult.”
After reuniting, the father-son duo began to sing together regularly, and have recorded several duets together and often perform at each other’s concerts.
Mahalia Barnes
Date of birth: July 12, 1982
Mother: Jane Mahoney
Mahalia is the eldest daughter of Jane and Jimmy Barnes. She started her musical career as a member of The Tin Lids, a children’s pop group composed of her and her siblings.
Mahalia has also released a few solo studio albums as an adult and has been featured in a few duets with her famous father.
Eliza-Jane Barnes
Date of birth: December 22, 1984
Mother: Jane Mahoney
Eliza Jane Barnes, also known as EJ, is a singer and actress.
She was a part of The Tin Lids when she was just seven years old. She appeared in the 2008 music video short for Liam Finn’s song Better to Be and has also sung alongside her father at live performances.
Most recently, EJ tied the knot with husband Jummy Metherell in March 2024, writing to Instagram, “After a rough end to last year, and with all the darkness in the world, I felt so grateful to be walking down the aisle with my beautiful Dadda towards the darling man that I love.”
Jackie Barnes
Date of birth: February 4, 1986
Mother: Jane Mahoney
Jackie is the only son of Jimmy and his wife Jane Mahoney.
Following in his father’s musical footsteps, he’s a drummer, singer, and songwriter. After graduating high school, Jackie toured with his dad as his band’s keyboardist and recorded a few songs with him. Currently, he plays with the Australian rock band – Rose Tattoo.
Elly-May Barnes
Date of birth: May 3, 1989
Mother: Jane Mahoney
Barnes’ daughter, Elly-May is (surprise, surprise) also a singer. She recorded duets with her father, most notably for his Double Happiness album.
In 2024, Elly-May took her journey in the music world one step further – working with Ella Hooper and Tim Rogers for ABC’s Headliners to give a platform to musicians with disabilities as part of the Mundi Mundi Bash.
“To help create a platform for some of the most talented musicians I’ve ever met who also happen to be living with disabilities… These human beings are some of the best people I know. You need to hear their stories. You may see a piece of yourself or you might even learn something new.” she wrote to Instagram.
Amanda Bennet & Megan Torzyn
In 2010, already a father to five, Barnes found out that he actually had two more children with two different women.
Amanda Bennett and Megan Torzyn, who were in their mid-30s at the time, contacted Barnes about their paternity, leading him to take a test, confirming he was their father.
Funnily enough, Amanda was born in the same year as Barnes’ other son David Campbell. Both Barnes and his wife have been welcoming to the two new family members.
“My kids are all so great that when I found out there were a couple more, I felt they would be good people, and they’re lovely girls,” he said.
Katy Lee Carroll
In December 2024 Jimmy publically acknowledged the existence of his daughter Katy after the woman was harassed by relentless anonymous phone calls.
The singer discovered his daughter around five years ago however opted to keep the news private.
“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,” he said in a statement from Thailand where the family is on a 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.”
Following the news, Katy revealed that she wished to keep details of the family matter private.
“Five years ago, I discovered that my biological father is Jimmy Barnes,” she said in a statement of her own. “Since that moment, I’ve been embraced by the Barnes family with love, warmth and incredible understanding.
“Over these years we’ve slowly, carefully gotten to know one another and this journey has been one of patience, respect and tenderness. It’s been a deeply meaningful process and I am truly grateful for the bonds we are building together.”
The Coffs Harbour-based real estate agent continued: “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.
“My hope is that my privacy will be respected during this time, as I continue to work through these challenges. It has been an extraordinary gift to be welcomed into such a talented and kind family and I am thankful every day for their support.
“This discovery, though exciting, has been approached with great thoughtfulness, not only for me, but also for my children and all of our extended families. As we continue to nurture these relationships, I remain committed to protecting our privacy, allowing each of us to grow and heal in our own time.
