Kyle Sandilands has paid an emotional tribute to his old friend and mentor, John Laws.
In a video shared to The Kyle and Jackie O Show Instagram, the 54-year-old shock jock could be seen fighting back tears as he remembered Laws, who died on Sunday at age 90.
‘We look back on our time with John Laws, our good friend and radio legend… who Kyle learnt a lot from and who helped him kickstart his career,’ the radio duo shared in the post.
‘Rest easy, John, you will be missed.’
‘He was very funny and a lot more caring than people gave him credit for,’ Kyle began his tribute on the KIIS FM breakfast show on Monday.
He added that his mother had cried when he told her the sad news that the media veteran known as ‘the Golden Tonsils’ had passed away.
Kyle Sandilands has paid an emotional tribute to his old friend and mentor John Laws after his death aged 91
During the chat, Kyle went on to recall how he had first encountered Laws four decades ago when he was a panel operator in Townsville
Kyle went on to recall how he had first encountered Laws four decades ago when he was a panel operator in Townsville.
‘He was a great mentor because when I first started in radio, I was pushing buttons for his ad breaks,’ he said, adding he was only 16 at the time.
‘I ended up being mates with him, we’d have dinner, we’d have lunch.’
Laws, who retired last year after 71 years in radio, appeared regularly on The Kyle and Jackie O Show over the years.
Known for his brash style with listeners, Laws was often heard cheekily teasing the duo during his many appearances.
On Monday, Kyle and Jackie also shared a throwback clip of Laws affectionately referring to Jackie as ‘Jackie Naught’.
Kyle also shared how Laws accused him of ‘imitating’ his style. Like Laws, Kyle used a golden microphone in the studio, and just like his mentor, he enjoyed driving a Rolls-Royce.
The radio star continued: ‘I remember the first time we got him on the show,’ [and Laws had] said: ”You’re just copying me” and I said: ”You inspire me.”‘
On Monday, Kyle and Jackie also shared a throwback clip of Laws affectionately referring to Jackie as ‘Jackie Naught’
Kyle could be seen choking up as he recalled one touching moment with Laws when the radio legend had dubbed him ‘the last of the radio cowboys’.
‘After you, who is there?’ Laws told him.
On Sunday, Kyle was one of the first celebrities to pay tribute to Laws.
‘You could never mistake him for anyone else,’ he tweeted on X.
‘He said what he thought, didn’t care who he offended, but could also show deep compassion when required,’ Kyle said.
‘I’m devastated to have lost a mentor and a mate. Radio won’t be the same without him.’
Regarded as one of Australia’s most powerful talkback hosts, Laws rose to become one of the country’s most well-known and highest-paid media personalities.
He is understood to have been in end-of-life care in recent months, and he leaves behind five children.
His wife Caroline, who he called his ‘princess’ and to whom he was married for more than four decades, died from cancer in 2020.
Laws began his career in AM radio back in 1953 at 3BO in Bendigo and his unique style earned the broadcaster the nickname ‘The Golden Tonsils’.
He was inducted into the Australian Radio Hall of Fame in 2003 and received an ARIA lifetime achievement award in 2008.
