Rock legend Jimmy Barnes has been spending Christmas in Italy with his wife, Jane, while his long-lost daughter has revealed she is homeless and sleeping in her car.
A Stark Contrast in Fortunes
Katy Lee Carroll, 38, was publicly introduced as the Cold Chisel frontman's daughter just a year ago. This week, she confirmed exclusively to the Daily Mail that she became homeless in August. After months of couch-surfing with family and friends, she is now sleeping in her car in bushland near Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast.
Meanwhile, Barnes, 69, and his 67-year-old wife Jane have been posting holiday pictures from Rome and Naples. They visited the Trevi Fountain and Barnes shared a clip of himself singing The Beatles' 'With a Little Help from My Friends', accompanied by Jane on guitar.
Family Crisis and Public Silence
Three sources close to Ms Carroll stated that Barnes is aware of her circumstances. When approached by the Daily Mail, the singer's personal publicist declined to comment, saying, 'We will not be making any comment on this story.'
Ms Carroll's three children are currently being cared for by her estranged husband, former rugby player AJ Gilbert. The couple sold their home earlier in the year, with Ms Carroll posting in August about 'new beginnings'. Her situation deteriorated following the death of her 32-year-old sister, Samantha, in February 2025, which forced her to step away from her job in real estate.
She has been unable to secure emergency accommodation from housing support services and is reluctant to stay at her mother's home an hour's drive away, as it distances her from her children.
A Complex Family History
Barnes publicly welcomed Ms Carroll into his family in December 2024, just hours after the Daily Mail contacted his management. In an Instagram post, he described her as a 'wonderful woman'.
Ms Carroll is Barnes's second-youngest offspring. The rock star has four children with wife Jane, two other previously unknown daughters (Amanda Bennett and Megan Torzyn), and is the father of television host David Campbell. Barnes and Campbell were jointly named Fathers of the Year in August 2024.
Ms Carroll discovered Barnes was her father after hiring a private investigator. Her mother revealed the belief on her 32nd birthday in September 2019. The pair first met in February 2020.
