It’s been five years since the tragic death of her beloved husband John, and Kerri-Anne Kennerly misses her best friend dearly.
John, who married the former Studio 10 presenter in 1984 at the Sydney Opera House, suffered a fall from a balcony in March 2016 which left him paralyzed and wheelchair-bound.
Kerri-Anne dedicated most of her time to his full-time care before he passed away at the age of 78 on February 27, 2019.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at this week’s Mercedes-Benz Women in Business event, the Australian television legend, 70, said that over the years her grief has changed.
‘It’s just week, month by month. You just have to figure it out and try to be as logical as possible,” he explained.
Kerri-Anne Kennerley has revealed how her grief has changed since the death of her beloved husband John, the challenges of living alone and what’s next for the TV icon.
Kerri-Anne’s husband John died five years ago
‘And resilience, I think. I have always been strong in resilience. Resilience is one of the most important human qualities that should be in the school curriculum from the age of five. If they taught children as part of the curriculum how to be resilient, how to be the glass half full, not half empty.
‘I think we have a much better society. It’s as important as you know: English and math.
Kerri-Anne also spoke about the challenges of living alone, saying it’s the little things she misses about having a significant other at home, like having someone to zip up her clothes.
The television icon dedicated most of his time to her full-time care before passing away at the age of 78 on February 27, 2019.
‘I couldn’t zip (my Balmain jumpsuit today). I had to call my friend’s apartment next door,” he said, laughing.
“I called and said, ‘Are you home? Please tell me you’re home.’ So I trudged down the hall and she had to zip me up, because when you live alone, you can’t zip it!’
Kerri-Anne’s last major TV appearance was on I’m A Celebrity last year alongside Domenica Calarco, Harry Garside and Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson.
The ageless beauty also revealed the secret to her youthful appearance and it’s something everyone can afford: happiness.
The former queen of daytime TV was previously a presenter on Channel Ten’s now-deleted morning show Studio 10, but was ordered to leave in August 2020 as Network Ten desperately tried to cut costs during the Covid pandemic.
His departure from the show coincided with Studio 10’s content becoming more politically progressive, as well as a sharp drop in ratings.
In November 2023, a Ten spokesperson confirmed that the embattled Studio 10 had officially been axed after more than a decade on air.
In fact, Kerri-Anne showed off her timeless looks as she stepped out to run errands in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Wednesday.
He now focuses on serving on the board of directors of various organizations and charities and enjoying his two greatest passions: traveling and golf.
‘I travel a lot and I love it. “For two weeks I go to Istanbul, London, Jersey and come back to London, it’s fantastic,” she explained.
‘And then on August 16, I’m heading to Kimberley on Scenic Eclipse for an 11-day cruise to Perth. And then I think in December I have a girlfriend who organizes big tennis events and she has a big event in early December in New York.
He added that he has no plans to return to television screens anytime soon due to the grueling hours, but he wouldn’t rule out a small project here and there.
‘I don’t even want to work five or six days a week. If you get a five-day-a-week job, it’s six days a week,” she said.
The blonde showed off her slender figure in a black zip-up fleece and blue joggers with a paisley print.
‘That’s not part of my plan, not because I spent 50 years working hard.
‘I realize there are other things you can do, but it would be nice to have a project here and a project there.
‘So if something comes up, I’ll consider it. But you know, it is. I am in a different stage of my life. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do a project.
The ageless beauty also revealed the secret to her ageless appearance and it’s something everyone can afford: happiness.
In fact, Kerri-Anne proved she was a cheeky beauty when she stepped out to run errands in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Wednesday.
The blonde showed off her slender figure in a black zip-up fleece and blue paisley-print joggers.
Her blonde hair was freshly combed and the TV star looked youthful without makeup.
She also looked sensational in a skintight Balmain jumpsuit at the annual Mercedes-Benz Women in Business event in Sydney earlier this week.
She paired her designer ensemble with Chanel necklaces and sparkly gold Giuseppe Zanotti stilettos.
Kerri-Anne said she has no plans to return to TV screens anytime soon due to the grueling hours, but she wouldn’t rule out a small project here and there.
“I have to say the first thing: love life,” she said of looking and feeling good.
‘Life has its challenges, but then, you know, you suck it up, princess, and move on.
‘I like to eat, drink and be happy, and it is easier to be happy than to be sad.
“Sadness is heavy, it’s exhausting and I think you really have to make a concerted effort to be happier and work on things to make them brighter.”
