Who are all of Jimmy Barnes’ children? Inside the Aussie rocker’s past as his secret lovechild is revealed

Jimmy Barnes is best known for his powerful vocals with the iconic rock band Cold Chisel and his successful solo career. 

But his off-stage life is equally noteworthy, having fathered eight children with five women over his 68 years.

The Working Class Man hitmaker was awarded Father of The Year by the Fathering Project in  August – an honour he shared with his eldest son, Today Extra host David Campbell.

Speaking about the honour at the time, Jimmy gushed about fatherhood.

‘From the moment you look into your baby’s eyes until the day they are about to walk through the door to venture out on a life on their own, joy flows freely,’ he said in a statement.

‘I have watched David on his journey, grow from a small child into an awkward young man, along the way we both made mistakes but nothing we couldn’t sort out with patience and love.’

Jimmy revealed, this week, that he has another daughter – real estate sales associate Katy Lee Carroll, who lives on the NSW north coast.

With news emerging of Jimmy’s brood expanding, here is a look at the Cold Chisel frontman’s unconventional family life.

Mahalia, Eliza Jane, Jackie and Ellie May 

Jimmy has four children with wife Jane, who he married in 1981.

They are Mahalia, 42, Eliza Jane, 40, Jackie, 38, Ellie May, 35.

Taking after their father, the four siblings began their musical careers early in the ‘90s as part of the children’s pop group The Tin Lids. 

Their passion for music has continued into adulthood, with all four showcasing their impressive talents.

Eldest daughter Mahalia has released four albums and competed in the third season of The Masked Singer on Channel 10.

Multi-talented Jackie is also quite handy on the drums, having performed on more than 60 releases since 1990.

He is currently the drummer for iconic rockers Rose Tattoo.

Eliza Jane has also performed with the likes of Liam Finn, the son of Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, as well as with her band Evil J & Saint Cecilia.

She tied the knot with husband Jimmy Metherell in March this year.

Jimmy’s youngest, Ellie May, was most recently seen on the ABC series Headliners with Killing Heidi’s Ella Hooper and You Am I frontman Tim Rogers.

David Campbell 

Khe Sanh singer Jimmy revealed to David Campbell that he was his father when  he was 10 years old.

David was raised by his grandmother, who he believed was his adoptive mother, and thought his teenage mother Kim was his sister.

He used to see Jimmy when he was growing up but believed he was just a family friend, until he discovered the truth.

‘I used to go see David when he was young but he didn’t know who I was. It must have been so weird for him,’ Jimmy admitted on The Apple and the Tree podcast.

‘I’d been on tour with Cold Chisel and I’d be hungover and I’d have a leather jacket on and I’d turn up.’

The singer admitted he felt relieved when he told David he was his father and said it didn’t take long before they developed a close father-son relationship. 

Amanda Bennett and Megan Torzyn 

Daughters Amanda Bennett and Megan Torzyn, both from Barnes’ hometown of Adelaide and now aged in their early 50s, met their father for the first time in 2010. 

The pair contacted Jimmy about paternity, leading him to take a test, confirming that he had fathered his daughters with two different women. 

‘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,’ Jimmy previously told New Idea.

‘My only regret is not knowing them when they were younger, but life is what it is and all things happen for a reason.

‘At the time it was probably better for them that they didn’t know me, because I was pretty wild.’

Katy Lee Carroll 

Jimmy has now revealed he also has another daughter – real estate sales associate Katy Lee Carroll, who lives on the NSW north coast.

The 68-year-old, who celebrated his 43rd wedding anniversary with Jane in May, has known about Ms Carroll for five years.

Barnes released a statement on Instagram on Monday afternoon, just a few hours after Daily Mail Australia contacted his management about his secret offspring.

‘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 wrote.

‘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 Happy Christmas. I look forward to bringing you all more music in the New Year.’