Eileen Johnson is a 23-year old Northwest native with an incredibly beautiful voice. She is also a cancer survivor; very thankful for her ability to sing. As a high school sophomore, Eileen was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. During surgery, her doctors discovered the cancer had spread throughout her throat, and they feared that she might never sing again. Radioactive iodine treatments followed over the next year, and eventually, Eileen became cancer free.
While a freshman at The University of Washington, Eileen became involved in a cancer benefit to raise money for The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Eileen raised $5,000 by writing letters to everyone she knew; asking them to join her in the fight against cancer. At the benefit, Eileen told her own personal cancer story. Then she did something she had always dreamed of doing. Eileen sang onstage that day and the reaction to her voice and story was amazing.
Eileen has performed for the cancer benefit, “Stardays”, hosted by actor Richard Karn, (Al of TV’s “Home Improvement”). She has also performed for the “Gilda’s Club Seattle” annual “Surviving with Cancer” benefits.
In 1999, Eileen sang The National Anthem for the Seattle Mariners, and The Seattle Thunderbirds. In August of 2001, Eileen sang The National Anthem for “The Pete Gross House” cancer benefit.
Eileen will be included on the “Voices for Gilda” album which will be released nationally on June 27, 2003. Proceeds of the album will go to Gilda’s Clubs all over the world, and will be available at Amazon.com.
Joining Eileen on the album will be Gilda Radner, Gene Wilder, Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, Paul Simon, Elton John, Sarah McLachlan, Harry Connick Jr., Paul Shaffer, Willie Nelson, Kenny G, Victor Garber, Mandy Patinkin, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, Quincy Jones, Nathan Lane, Dana Carvey, Randy Travis, Kevin Bacon, David Foster, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Microsoft co-founder and cancer survivor Paul Allen, and a Grammy nominated song from Jackson Berkey with The Seattle Girls Choir.
Eileen recorded the song “It’s So Easy” for the film “Gambling Divinity”, an independent film. Eileen is also the subject of a documentary film, by Academy-Award winning filmmaker Michael Korolenko.
As a fortunate cancer survivor, Eileen is using the “miracle” of her beautiful voice to sing for cancer benefits whenever needed and to pursue her dream of singing for movies.