A surprise detail has emerged after Jackie ‘O’ Henderson’s shock admission about her secret drug and alcohol addiction.
The radio host, 49, made the tearful revelation she secretly checked into the Betty Ford Clinic in November 2022 while speaking to her co-host Kyle Sandilands on their KIIS FM radio show on Thursday morning.
Jackie revealed that at the height of her addiction she was consuming up to 12 Stilnox sleeping pills and 24 Panadeine Forte tablets daily, often with alcohol.
Despite their on-air partnership lasting for 25 years, Jackie’s long-standing co-host Kyle was kept in the dark about her addiction battle.
As Jackie made her heartfelt admission, a shocked Kyle revealed he had ‘no idea’ about his co-host’s secret.
‘You’re just so anti-drug, that’s the shock of it, you have never been the party girl, you were never that,’ he said.
Speaking sincerely, Kyle added that he was ’embarrassed’ that he did not see any signs of Jackie’s addiction.
‘I didn’t know you were a big drinker, I know you like a wine every now and then. I feel embarrassed that I sit here every day of my life and had no clue,’ he said.
‘I’m in shock, I’m in shock and feeling like a s**t friend for not realising,’ he added.
A surprise detail has emerged after Jackie ‘O’ Henderson ‘s shock admission about her secret drug and alcohol addiction on Thursday
Jackie admitted that only her mother, daughter Kitty, 13, and best friend Gemma O’Neil knew of her personal struggle.
‘I just didn’t want anyone to know until I had at least gotten a year or more of sobriety under my belt,’ she said.
An empathetic Kyle responded with: ‘I’m sorry you didn’t think that you could share it earlier, but these things do creep up, don’t they. Slowly, slowly.’
Kyle and Jackie O’s on-air partnership began in 1999 when Kyle replaced Jackie’s ex ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil as co -host of 2DayFM’s Hot30 Countdown.
Despite their on-air partnership lasting for 25 years, Jackie’s long-standing co-host Kyle was kept in the dark about her addiction battle
As Jackie made her heartfelt admission, a shocked Kyle revealed he had ‘no idea’ about his co-host’s secret
Jackie revealed on Thursday how she took around 10-12 Stilnox/Zolpidem sleeping pills and 24 Panadeine Forte a day and would take them while drinking alcohol at the height of her addiction.
She checked into the Betty Ford Clinic in California in November 2022, taking an extended break from The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
At the time, Kyle told listeners Jackie was taking a break to ‘focus on her health’ after contracting Covid.
Jackie also revealed how she managed to secretly fly out of Australia and to Los Angeles in November 2022 to check into the famous Betty Ford Clinic, which has been host to Hollywood stars including Lindsay Lohan and Keith Urban.
Speaking live on-air, Jackie said she was accompanied by her best friend Gemma for the flight and they made the decision to catch a night flight for more privacy.
Jackie broke down as she finally revealed her secret on Thursday
Reading out a section from her memoir, The Whole Truth, Jackie detailed her travel itinerary and how she managed to keep her addiction a secret for more than two years.
‘I’m ready to leave for the airport and catch this night flight. We board at the last possible moment and we arrive late in the evening.
‘We pick up our rental car and set a course for Palm Springs. We’re headed to a little hotel there for two nights, but that’s not my final destination.
‘After our weekend in the Sonoran desert, Gemma will be heading home and I won’t be going with her. I’m going on alone when she checks out.’
Jackie then secretly checked into the Betty Ford Clinic for a 28-day stay to take part in a voluntary 12-step program to treat her drug addiction.
