Harry Connick Jr. Opens Up About Wife’s Secret 5-Year Battle Against Cancer

Harry Connick Jr. is finally breaking his silence about his wife Jill Goodacre’s five-year battle against breast cancer.

While speaking with People, Connick Jr. revealed that his wife was diagnosed with Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma and underwent surgery. The result of procedure also revealed that Goodacre had a more extensive ductal carcinoma in situ, a less invasive form of breast cancer.

After undergoing a second surgery the next day, the recording artist revealed that his wife went into early menopause. Goodacre also gained some weight due to her medication.

Goodacre, who used to be a Victoria’s Secret model, found herself in a size and shape that she was never in before. “I’ve always been a pretty fit person, and so to just be rounder and heavier and not to really be able to do much about it – that’s been hard. It’s taken a lot out of my self-confidence,” she said.

But despite the changes in her physical appearance, Connick Jr. just learned to love his wife even more. “She’s my best friend, and I really don’t know what I would do without her. I was scared I was going to lose her, absolutely,” he said. Connick Jr.’s mom died of ovarian cancer when he was just 13.

In fact, he’s not also bothered with the changes in her body at all. “It’s not silly and it’s not vain. It’s a part of how the cancer and the treatment impacted her, and it was a real issue, even though she will always be the most beautiful woman in the world,” he added.

The couple first met in 1990, at that height of Goodacre’s modeling career. They tied the knot four years later and have been blessed with three daughters, Georgia, 21, Kate, 20, and Charlotte, 15. They also shared why they think their marriage has worked out throughout the years.

“I think one of the reasons we’ve lasted this long is that we’re so aligned in every way. We have the same morals, the same goals,” he said.

Goodacre will appear on Thursday’s episode of “Harry,” hosted by her husband, to talk about her cancer battle and remission.