Angela Bishop’s emotional tribute to KAK and her husband on Studio 10
Kerri-Anne Kennerley shared that her husband, John, passed away on Wednesday with loved ones around him.
Her fellow Studio 10 co-hosts were in tears on Thursday morning, as they announced the news live on air.
Angela Bishop spoke about John through tears, whilst being comforted by co-host Joe Hildebrand.
"John is someone I have known with Kerri-Anne for more than two decades and he is just an extraordinary man," Angela Bishop said, wiping away tears, who sadly lost her own husband at the age of 54 to cancer in 2017.
"He had a beautiful, warm heart, and he and my late husband became friends because they were always the plus one together at functions. He was a beautiful, beautiful man, and this is just devastating news.
"He really was just the love of Kerri-Anne's life."
Richard Reid described the pair as a “couple of kids in love”.
"She would beam at him and he would beam at her and it was just so fabulous, so my heart is just so heavy. You are a legend, a legend and a beautiful woman and wife and a fabulous individual."
Sandra Sully and Lisa Wilkinson, Kerri-Anne’s Network 10 colleagues, expressed their condolences at hearing the news.
"I am devastated for her. John has been the love of her life and been with her privately and professionally every step of the way," Sully said.
"I can't imagine her loss and grief right now. I am so very sad."
So very sad of KAK - he was her rock #ripjohn 😞🌺 https://t.co/QftvQtBZP0
— Sandra Sully (@Sandra_Sully) February 27, 2019
Wilkinson said that her thoughts were with Kerri-Anne and her family during the "difficult days, weeks and months ahead".
"Their love for each other was absolute," Wilkinson said.
"Never moreso than in the years since John's tragic accident. Vale."
So sorry to hear of the passing of Kerri-Anne Kennerley's husband John. Their love for each other was absolute. Never moreso than in the years since John’s tragic accident. Vale. https://t.co/zRFCjICDwv via @10Daily
— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) February 27, 2019
The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, said that the love story between John and Kerri-Anne is one that shows “how lucky we are to have people we love in our lives”.
"I'm sure Kerri-Anne will be deeply comforted by that relationship over such a long period of time and I'm sure she will get enormous waves of comfort from the Australian people," he said at a press conference announcing Ita Buttrose as the new ABC chair.
"They shared their story openly with the Australian public and they let people into a very private part of their lives and I think the strength, determination and compassion and care that was shown in that relationship was an inspiration to all Australians.
"We love you very much, Kerri-Anne, and we hope that these days and weeks ahead are not too arduous, but we know they will be, and you have the love and care of the nation with you."