‘The older I get, the happier I am with my lot’
Hosting a TV show that promotes the talents of everyday Australians has helped Amanda Keller reflect on her own life.
After decades of stardom, television and radio personality Amanda Keller has found renewed joy and purpose by turning the spotlight on unsung Australians.
Best known for co-hosting the long-running lifestyle program The Living Room and the popular Sydney breakfast radio show Jonesy & Amanda, Keller has taken on a new role fronting The Piano, an uplifting ABC TV series that showcases everyday Australians playing pianos in public places.
Keller says she was so moved after watching just one episode of the British version of the show that she knew she had to be involved in the Australian series.
The program features everyday Australians who are invited to perform on the piano at various locations around the country.
But it’s not just the local audience they are playing for. What the pianists don’t know is that they are being observed by superstar Canadian crooner, Harry Connick Jr, and one of Australia’s greatest classical concert pianists, Andrea Lam.
On offer is the once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform at the Sydney City Recital Hall.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), Keller, 63, said that growing older had given her new clarity in terms of the projects she chooses. Early in her career, she chased every opportunity, but now she seeks work that feels meaningful.
She said hosting The Piano had been a profoundly emotional experience, filled with laughter, tears, and admiration for the everyday talents of ordinary Australians.
Keller’s path was never meticulously planned. Starting behind the scenes on Simon Townsend’s Wonder World and later Midday with Ray Martin, she learned the art of storytelling before finding fame on Beyond 2000. Her natural warmth and sharp wit eventually led her to become one of Australia’s most popular and highest-paid radio hosts.
Life, however, has also brought its challenges. In 2017, around the time she became the first woman inducted into the Australian Commercial Radio Hall of Fame, her husband, Harley Oliver, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. They did not discuss it in public until 2023.
Managing private struggles alongside public success has given Keller a deeper appreciation for the hidden battles many people face.
“I have learnt to appreciate the journey people are on, and I don’t think this is something I could have understood or been able to do at 20 or 40,” she told the SMH.
“But now, in my 60s, I see the universality of what we’re all going through.”
Despite her busy career, Keller prioritises self-care, recognising the importance of rest, connection, and time for herself. Afternoon naps, book club gatherings, and weekend walks with a close friend are sacred rituals in her week.
Reflecting on her journey, Keller said, “The older I get, the happier I am with my lot.”
Far from eyeing retirement, she continues to embrace new opportunities with enthusiasm, grateful for the work she loves and the connections she treasures.
The Piano debuts on ABC TV on 4 May, when it will also be available on ABC iView.
