“I’ve Always Looked Up to You”: James Farnham’s Tender Tribute to His Father John

For Australians, John Farnham has long been the voice behind some of the country’s most treasured songs.

But for his son James, the legendary singer has always been something far more personal — the father he admired, the man who made growing up fun, and the example he now hopes to follow as he raises a family of his own.

On Father’s Day, James offered fans a rare glimpse into that bond, sharing a series of family photographs alongside a deeply personal message to his dad.

“I’ve always looked up to you”

As Australians celebrated Father’s Day on September 6, James reflected on how his relationship with John has changed as he has grown older and become a father himself.

“From one father to another, I’ve realised just how much you’ve taught me over the years… some useful, some questionable,” James wrote.

The light-hearted opening quickly gave way to a more heartfelt tribute.

“You’ve always been a great dad and someone I’ve looked up to my whole life,” he continued.

Now that James has a son of his own, that admiration has taken on another meaning.

“Now that I’m a dad myself, I just hope Jett looks up to me the same way I’ve always looked up to you.”

It was a simple reflection, but one that captured something much bigger: the way lessons passed from one generation to the next can quietly shape an entire family.

The side of John that James knows best

James also shared the qualities that have stayed with him throughout his life — and they had little to do with his father’s fame.

He described John as someone who has “always been positive, fun, silly and never taken yourself too seriously”.

And then came a typically playful admission.

James joked that this was probably where he inherited much of his own silliness.

It was an affectionate glimpse of John away from the stage — not the Australian music legend known by millions, but the father his son remembers for making everyday family life enjoyable.

James ended the tribute with a simple thank-you:

“Thanks for making dad time good fun all these years.”

Four photographs, decades of family memories

The message was accompanied by four photographs that seemed to tell the story James was trying to put into words.

One showed a much younger John, with his long blonde hair, holding baby James in his arms.

Another showed an emotional James holding his own newborn son, Jett.

And in another recent family moment, John and his wife Jillian could be seen looking down at their grandson.

Placed together, the images created a quiet family timeline — John as a young father, James growing up under his guidance, and James eventually stepping into the same role himself.

The photographs made James’s words about hoping Jett will look up to him as he has always looked up to John feel even more poignant.

A very different chapter for John

The Father’s Day tribute also comes at a particularly significant time for John.

The singer has remained largely away from the public spotlight since undergoing extensive surgery in 2022 to remove a cancerous tumour from his throat.

Although he was declared cancer-free in 2023, the lasting effects of the surgeries have changed what the next chapter of his life looks like. In May, John confirmed that a return to live performance was no longer possible because of the impact of the surgeries on his mouth and face.

For decades, the stage was where Australians knew John best.

Now, some of the most meaningful moments being shared with fans are much quieter ones — surrounded by his wife, his sons and his grandson.

John’s music is still taking centre stage

Even though John himself will not return to performing, his musical legacy continues to be celebrated.

On September 20, The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend — The Celebration Concert will take place at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, bringing together more than 120 performers and musicians to honour his career. John will not be performing at the event.

The tribute comes as Australians continue to celebrate the extraordinary career behind songs that have become part of the country’s musical identity.

But perhaps James’s Father’s Day message offered a reminder of a different kind of legacy.

Beyond the legend

John Farnham’s career can be measured in albums, awards, chart records and packed arenas.

His legacy as a father is harder to quantify.

It lives in the lessons James says he has carried with him. In the humour he believes he inherited from his dad. In the way he now watches over his own son.

And perhaps most simply, in James’s admission that after all these years, he still looks up to his father.

For an Australian music icon who spent a lifetime in the spotlight, it may be one of the most personal tributes of all — not from a fan, but from the son who knows the man behind the legend best.