Undoubtedly, the 90’s guys may have never missed the entertaining shows hosted by Jo Beth Taylor on the Nine Network during those days.
Notably, Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show and Hey Hey It’s Saturday were among the most loved television programs during the last decade of the 20th century.
As a result, Jo Beth Taylor was gaining a spot in the entertainment industry worldwide.
Taylor, originally named Joanne Rebecca Guilfoyle, is an Australian television presenter, actor, and singer.
Starting as a singer at the age of five, she established her name in different amusement shows. Moreover, her wedding photos with the tennis player Thomas Muster took all the attention in Woman’s Day magazine.
Many Australian theatres have allowed the public to have a taste of her talents to the public. She has amused us with two singles and an album in the 90s decade with a pleasant voice.
In fact, life has taken Taylor on an adventurous ride involving a nervous breakdown once. Let’s have a glimpse of the success she achieved and the fortunes and affairs she attracted.
Quick Facts
Full Name | Joanne Rebecca Guilfoyle |
Birth Date | May 29, 1971 |
Birth Place | Perth, Western Australia |
Nickname | Jo Beth Taylor |
Religion | Christianity |
Nationality | Australian |
Ethnicity | White |
Horoscope | Gemini |
Education | Carine Senior High School, Perth |
Father’s Name | NA |
Mother’s Name | NA |
Siblings | One brother |
Age | 53 Years Old |
Height | 5 feet 6 inches (166 cm) |
Weight | 61 kg (134 lbs) |
Build | Slim |
Eye color | Blonde |
Hair Color | Blue |
Profession | TV Show Host Actress Singer |
Hits | Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show What’s Up, Doc? 99 Reasons |
Active years | 1984-present |
Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Favorite Music | R&B |
Favorite Artist | Bob Marley |
Marital Status | Married |
Husband | Matt Bennell (m. 2016) |
Ex-Husbands | Jamie Jardine (m. 1992 -1997) Thomas Muster (m. 2000 – 2005) |
Children | One son |
Son | Christian |
Net Worth | $10 million |
Social Media | Facebook, Instagram |
Last Update | January, 2025 |
Jo Beth Taylor | Early Life and Family
Taylor was born in Perth, the western region of Australia, on May 29, 1971. Her father was a car sales manager, a profession he held for 30 years.
As a result, Taylor could play with real cars like toys. Moreover, she had to possess a white Mazda Capella, her own car when she was 17.
On the other hand, she grew up in Perth with her brother. However, her family members’ details, including their names, are still undisclosed to the public.
Besides, she is a white woman with Gemini as the star sign. Furthermore, she went to Carine Senior High School in Perth for school-level education. Taylor began singing in her childhood at the age of 5.
Jo Beth Taylor | Professional Career
Early career and singing
Taylor began her professional career when she performed on Perth’s Young Entertainers. In fact, she was just 13 years of age when she sang on the television program.
As soon as she was 15, she released a music video called Running For Our Lives. In the meantime, a local band called Street Café reached her, and she approved the offer to join them.
With her band, she traveled around Perth, amusing the audience. Without delay, Taylor recorded a demo music tape after moving to Melbourne in 1989.
Molly Meldrum, an Australian record producer, heard her album and immediately developed an interest in her talent.
Accordingly, he signed Taylor to his record. At this instant, she came up with a stage name as ‘Jo Beth’ since Joanne seemed dull.
Debut album
Debbie Gibson included Taylor in her 1990 tour of the band, Indecent Obsession. Soon after the tour, Taylor received an invitation from Gibson to join her in New York City.
While living there for a year, Taylor was working on her debut album, 99 Reasons. Gibson was the writer and producer of the five tracks on the album.
Similarly, Jelly Benetez was another personality with whom Taylor cooperated for the album’s production. Later, Taylor released the single ’99 Reasons’ in 1991 after returning to Australia.
The song received a fair success reaching the No. 31 spots in the Australian Top 40 hits list. Furthermore, it remained in the Top 50 for nine weeks.
However, the album with the same title could not succeed as the single as it did not make it to the top 100.
Similarly, the second and last single album, ‘You Don’t Own Me,’ was not successful either. Significantly, Taylor received her nominations for Best New Talent at the 1992 ARIA Awards but could not clinch the honor.
Other songs
Likewise, Taylor released a single track named ‘A Prayer For Jane’ in 1993. The song demonstrated the story of a friend who had her own life.
It was composed by Steve Kipner, working with Olivia Newton-John and Tina Turner. Eventually, the song booked its peak spot at No. 61 positions on the Australian chart.
Television Shows
Later in February 1993, Taylor was handed the duty to host Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show. The show was one of the top-rated programs shown on Nine Network.
Notably, she became the youngest woman to host a prime-time show in Australia at the age of 22. Besides, she was the only woman to host such a show in the country.
As a matter of fact, Taylor sang the opening song of the show, The Funny Things You Do.
In the meantime, she gained a co-host role in the variety program Hey Hey It’s Saturday as Ernie Carroll vacated the position. No doubt, the audience could enjoy her performing music on the program.
Besides, Taylor even hosted the show alone when her partner Daryl Somers was away. Similarly, she ran another show on the same network titled What’s Up Doc? Also, she hosted the one-time show Vision for a Better World Telethon.
In like manner, another special show, the 40 Years of Television, was filmed on the same set as What’s Up Doc?
Return to Music and stage performance
Taylor released another single titled ‘I Loved My Dog’ in 1996. It was a soundtrack for the 1996 American comedy-adventure film 101 Dalmatians.
The song peaked at the No. 95 positions on the ARIA chart. Meanwhile, she also received the opportunities to feature in the stage shows Cindrella in 1995 and The New Rocky Horror Show in 1996.
Disappearance from the public eye
Taylor was out of the public appearances during mid-1997 as she failed to report at her duty.
At the time, she went to San Diego, California, as she needed some time to calm down from her nervous breakdown. Later, after returning, she said that she was stressed due to work fatigue and mental instability.
There was nothing I could do. I just felt really attacked.
Meanwhile, a sex tape involving her was circulating the nation, which she claimed was false. It acted as a catalyst to urge her to take a break from all her duties.
The rumor had really caused an extremely negative impact on her family. Nine Network called emergency replacements to fill her absence.
Return to Television
1999 saw her return to television as she sang I Want You Back in August on In Melbourne Tonight.
Later in October, she played the role of Laura in the stage show, Happy Days: The Arena Mega Musical. Moreover, she provided songs, including ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘You Don’t Own Me’ for the production.
Notably, she returned to Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show but, as a guest, this time at the end of 199.
There she performed the show’s theme song and Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday. Similarly, she had also made a return to Hey Hey It’s Saturday in its final episode as a guest.
Hosting new shows
Taylor served as a host in 2000 for Nine Network in the show Starstruck. Besides, she had a guest appearance on the fundraising telethon, Australia Unites: Reach Out to Asia in 2005.
Nine gave her the role to co-host their new lifestyle show, Scotty’s Place, taken from her before she could begin.
In due time, Taylor went to Noosa to work for the radio station Zinc 96.1 FM as a morning crew. There she worked for approximately six months.
Meanwhile, she appeared in the Australian version of Dirty Jobs on Nine Network, co-hosting the show with Ben Dark. Eventually, she made a return to Hey Hey It’s Saturday’s reunion show in 2009.
Competing in the reality show
Next, Taylor was seen among the contestants at the tenth season of the reality show, Dancing with the Stars. However, she could only make it to the fourth week of the Seven Network’s show commenced on June 27, 2010.
Furthermore, she competed at a game segment in an episode of Hey Hey It’s Saturday in November 2010.
Also, she was featured as a judge for the Red Faces in the final of the series. Long after six years, she appeared in the second season of I’m A Celebrity….Get Me Out Of Here! As a contestant.
Notably, Taylor had chosen World Vision Australia, a non-governmental organization, as her charity as she entered the South African jungle.
Later, Network 10 had her as a co-host in their morning talk show, Studio 10. Next, she competed in the Australian game show All-Star Family Feud in August 2016.
Jo Beth Taylor | Net Worth and Incomes
Definitely, Jo Beth has spent over three decades of her life in different entertainment industry aspects.
After all, we have seen her as a music artist to a reality show contestant. No doubt, she has made fortunes from her music sale, stage performances, and television salaries.
Jo Beth Taylor has a speculated net worth of $10 million as of 2025.
Indeed, Taylor has owned several luxury cars, including a 2016 red Audi A3. Moreover, she is the ambassador for Audi Centre Sunshine Coast.
Song Quotes
- I could give you 99 reasons why I’ll never let you go
And 99 reasons to believe in why I need you so - When you feel the pain
Say a prayer for Jane
Jo Beth Taylor | Relationship and Kids
First, Taylor was married to Jamie Jardin, a guitarist, in 1992. The relationship was speculated to have been born of the music link-up.
The couple used to live in a 500-hectare property on the NSW coast. However, her first marriage lasted until 1997, when the couple separated.
Married to former world No. 1 Tennis player
After few years of her separation from her first husband, Taylor tied a knot with Thomas Muster in 2000.
Muster is an Austrian tennis player who used to live in Noosa Heads at that time. Notably, he was one of the best tennis players in the 90s who had reached the No. 1 ranking in singles in February 1996.
The King of Clay had poached the 1995 French Open trophy and has won eight Masters 1000 Series titles.
Furthermore, with 44 singles titles, he is also the first Austrian tennis player to win a Grand Slam title. Moreover, he had a record for most singles titles in the ATP tour, which Roger Federer tied in 2006.
Thomas had married Taylor in Austria. Furthermore, the couple gave birth to a son named Christian in 2001.
However, with complications in their relationship, they separated in 2002. Later, Taylor returned to settle in Noosa with her son. Eventually, their divorce was finalized in 2005.
Eventually, Taylor found love when she met Matt Bennell at a soccer game. Her son Christian and Bennell’s son from a previous relationship, Jarvis, were involved in the game. Accordingly, they married in 2016.
Jo Beth Taylor | Social Media Presence
Taylor uses social media handles to update her fans and well-wishers about various events in her life.
Accordingly, she actively uses Instagram and Facebook accounts. Besides, she has a private account and a public page on Facebook.
Facebook Page: 3.3 Thousand followers
Facebook Account: 1.77 Thousand followers
Instagram: 11.8 Thousand followers
Jo Beth Taylor | FAQs
Why did Jo Beth Taylor disappear from television in 1997?
Jo Beth Taylor decided to take an emergency break because of intense work stress and ongoing sex-tape rumors.
Accordingly, she went to San Diego in California, where she remained for two years. Eventually, she revealed that exhaustion and mental pressure was the key reason for being out of public eyes.
What is Jo Beth Taylor doing now?
Jo Beth Taylor lives in a beautiful house located in her hometown of Perth with her husband, Matt Bennell.
Besides, she has been practicing Iyengar Yoga for ten years now. Accordingly, she is studying as a Yoga teacher, trainee.
Furthermore, she recently celebrated her 50th birthday and revealed to the New Idea that she loved getting old. The singer is enjoying her life and living in the moment.
What are some of Jo Beth’s greatest hits?
Some of the singer’s greatest hits are 99 Reasons, I Love My Dog, If This Isn’t Love, A Prayer For Jane, etc.
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