A stage producer’s mesothelioma diagnosis reveals the dangers of asbestos exposure in the music industry.
Jimmy Johnson was known around the world for his talent in live music stage production. During his 58-year career, he toured with musical legends like Elvis, the Eagles, R.E.M., Chicago, Faith Hill, and Prince.
What he didn’t know was that he was regularly being exposed to asbestos, a toxic substance that would eventually force him to dim the lights on his passion for producing live shows. While on tour in his late 60s, Jimmy was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer he knew nothing about.
“I don’t think a lot of people know how you get mesothelioma and where it comes from. What I worry about now is how many of my fellow workers got it as well and maybe passed on without knowing.”
– Jimmy Johnson, pleural mesothelioma warrior
Jimmy passed away in 2025 after a courageous four-year battle with pleural mesothelioma. Read more about Jimmy’s story — a life well lived, the fight for an accurate diagnosis, the importance of having a caregiver during treatment, and the legal support that gave him peace of mind that his wife would be okay when he was gone.
A Tour Disrupted by Unexpected Symptoms
In 2021, Jimmy was in Colorado helping bands and performers with a stage production. Typically, he would be active, walking between his hotel and the venue where he was working.
However, he recalled being struck with severe symptoms that disrupted his normal routine, including:
- Fatigue
- Pain in his chest, side, and back
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
Jimmy had to take regular breaks to catch his breath and could barely keep up. He decided to fly home early so he could see a doctor.
From Surgery for Lung Cancer to a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Unfortunately, getting an accurate diagnosis wasn’t a simple process for Jimmy. He and his wife, Kelley, met with several doctors. Some of them thought his symptoms were heart-related, while others thought it could be gastrointestinal.
None of them were able to pinpoint the real issue. Eventually, he found a doctor who ordered a CT scan, a type of imaging test that takes detailed X-rays of the body’s soft tissues.
When the results came back, Jimmy’s doctor, who had only seen him twice, was certain he had lung cancer.
“Kelley and I told him, ‘I never smoked. How could it be lung cancer?’”
– Jimmy Johnson, pleural mesothelioma warrior
Two months after his CT scans, Jimmy went in for surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon discovered that he didn’t have lung cancer after all. Jimmy actually had pleural mesothelioma, a much rarer cancer that forms in the lining of the lung rather than the lung itself.
Finding Financial Support Through Legal Help
Both Jimmy and his wife were forced into retirement by an illness he developed through no fault of his own. They found themselves scrambling to control their finances to handle whatever may come next.
Jimmy’s surgeon recommended contacting an attorney to help them navigate their financial situation. Jimmy and Kelley felt apprehensive at first, but they decided to keep looking into it.
Eventually, they called Simmons Hanly Conroy, a leading mesothelioma law firm. Within a week, a lawyer came out to their house and explained how mesothelioma compensation could help.
Their lawyers fought for an out-of-court settlement that not only covered Jimmy’s medical bills and treatment expenses but also provided much-needed financial security for Kelley.
“All of a sudden, one check showed up, and then another check showed up, and then another check showed up,” Jimmy recalled. “And they are still coming in now. It’s been very satisfying, and what I know is that my wife is taken care of for the rest of her life.”
Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review today to see if you can pursue compensation for your illness.
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Asbestos Use in the Music and Entertainment Industry
The biggest mystery in Jimmy’s case was how he was exposed to asbestos, which is the only known cause of mesothelioma. As his legal team dove deeper, they discovered that asbestos was lurking all around when Jimmy was working in music studios.
It turns out Jimmy handled several asbestos-containing products nearly every day, including:
- Electrical wiring
- Fireproofing curtains
- Flooring
- Stage lights
When products containing asbestos are damaged or worked on, microscopic fibers can be released into the air. Jimmy and anyone else nearby could have unknowingly swallowed or breathed in the fibers from these asbestos clouds, causing them to develop illnesses like mesothelioma many years later.
“There was asbestos in the fire curtains, and a lot of fire curtains still to this day have not been changed or taken out.”
– Jimmy Johnson, pleural mesothelioma warrior
Adapting to Treatment and Life With Mesothelioma
After his diagnosis was confirmed, Jimmy’s medical team recommended a specific course of mesothelioma treatment.
First, he underwent three rounds of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, his follow-up scans showed that the cancer wasn’t responding to the treatment.
Jimmy’s specialists then started him on immunotherapy, a newer cancer treatment that helps the body’s immune system find and attack mesothelioma cells. His tumors did begin to shrink after starting immunotherapy, providing some needed hope and relief.
The Importance of Having a Caregiver
When Jimmy had to quit his job to focus on his health, Kelley stepped in, becoming his mesothelioma caregiver and advocate as they navigated a new chapter of their life together. She helped him as he underwent various treatments and began using an oxygen tank.
Kelley was grateful to be able to be there with him, and grateful that Jimmy was able to stay home with her until the end.
“She’s helped me get through all this. She’s my rock, she does everything.”
– Jimmy Johnson, pleural mesothelioma warrior
Kelley said there were good days and bad days after Jimmy’s diagnosis, but they focused on staying positive. “It’s all about humor,” she shared. “You want to have more of the smiles.”
Kelley also shared how overwhelming a mesothelioma diagnosis can be — managing the medical and legal aspects while trying to protect your loved one and make the best decisions for them. She worked hard to ensure Jimmy’s life was as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Caregiving is a crucial aspect of a mesothelioma diagnosis. Learn how Kelley Johnson cared for her husband Jimmy as he battled pleural mesothelioma. We can help you find caregiving resources to make life easier if a loved one has mesothelioma. Call (866) 608-8933 to learn more. View Transcript.
Duration: 1 min 30 sec
Kelley: My name is Kelley Johnson and my husband, Jimmy Johnson, has mesothelioma.
Jimmy is the official moneymaker, but I had to come off the road too, to be his caregiver and his advocate.
I can’t imagine somebody that is just jumping into a mesothelioma world can even grasp it, because there’s so many entities. You’ve got the legal world. You’ve got the medical world. You’ve got all this hitting you in the face, and you’re trying to protect your spouse like you would protect your child. And that’s what I do for Jimmy.
Jimmy: We’ve been married 38 years, we’ve been together 42 years. And without her, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here. She’s helped me get through all this. She’s my rock, she does everything.
With having this disease, I can’t even walk to the mailbox to get the mail. She takes care of basically everything. She’s constantly asking me anything you need, anything you need, anything you need. I’m very thankful for that.
Kelley: I wish he felt better, but he could be laying in a hospital bed gasping, and he’s not. I’m glad I’m there for him. And I would just hope everybody had an advocate like me.
How We Help Mesothelioma Patients and Their Families
Jimmy is one of the 3,000 Americans diagnosed with mesothelioma every year. But no one has to face this cancer alone.
Our team at Mesothelioma Hope can help you find:
- Personalized medical treatment in your area
- Financial compensation to cover medical care
- Peer mentors and palliative care for an extra layer of support
Call us now at (866) 608-8933 or get our Free Survivors Guide to learn more about how we can help you and your family.
