Tina Arena has shared her heartache following the death of her mentor and close friend, Australian music legend Johnny Young.
The singer, 58, credited Young for her entire music career during an appearance on glowmusic.co’s vodcast recorded just hours after news broke of his passing aged 79 on Friday.
Tina Arena appeared on a podcast just hours after news broke than John Young had died. Instagram/glowmusic.co, Instagram/@TinaArena
“The thing that has happened overnight and is very raw for me is the passing of John Young… which is someone who started my career. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be sitting here today,” she said.
Young launched Arena’s career on the Young Talent Time variety show when she first appeared in 1974 at just seven years old.
“He was the one. It was his show – he made the creative decisions and chose the kids, and we had a really wonderful relationship,” she continued.
“He’s like my second dad, and his passing… pretty tough. I hope he’s looking down on us, and I’m sure he is.”
Dannii Minogue, who first appeared on Young Talent Time on her eighth birthday in 1979, said Young’s death was heartbreaking.
“Johnny Young holds a place in so many hearts, and today my heart is broken,” she wrote on Instagram on Friday.
“He has so many achievements from his music and TV career, pop writing and releases, and family entertainment on our televisions. For me, this is where my career started, and generations of Aussies hold Young Talent Time and the song All My Loving so fondly in their memories.”
In a statement released by his family, it was revealed that Young passed away following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Young died aged 79 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Getty
“Johnny Young, born Johnny Benjamin De Jong, has passed away following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer,” the statement read.
“Johnny was the creator, host and producer of the much loved television show Young Talent Time. He wrote and produced many iconic hit songs including The Real Thing and Smily.
“Johnny leaves behind his wife Marisha, sister Cornelia, daughters Anna and Fleur, son Craig (dec.), seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
“The family respectfully asks for privacy during this difficult time. Details of a memorial service will be announced soon.”
Young launched the careers of many Aussie stars including Arena, Danni Minogue and Jamie Redfern on Young Talent Time, which he hosted from 1971 to 1988.
Young had three children – two daughters, Anna and Fleur, and a son called Craig – as well as nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In a cruel twist of fate, Young tragically lost his only son Craig Young to pancreatic cancer in 2014 when he was just 48.
Craig was Young’s child from his first marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Jane, who also sadly passed away from leukaemia in her 20s.
He shared two daughters, Anna and Fleur, from his second marriage which ended in 1995 after 20 years together.
He went on to marry for a third time to Polish-born wife Marisha, and the couple were together for over 20 years until he passed away.