Music's Most Famous Phone Number, 867-5309, Will Now Direct Callers to a Cancer Helpline (Exclusive)
Music's Most Famous Phone Number, 867-5309, Will Now Direct Callers to a Cancer Helpline (Exclusive)
Cara Lynn ShultzMon, March 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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Still photo from the '867-5309/Jenny' music videoCredit: TutoneJJ/YouTube -
Tommy Tutone's Tommy Heath is lending the number from his hit song "867-5309/Jenny" to a cancer helpline
Run by the global nonprofit Cancer Support Community, the free helpline offers guidance, resources and emotional support for people impacted by cancer
Heath tells PEOPLE exclusively that he was inspired by personal experiences to join the cause
If you call music's most famous phone number, Jenny won't answer — but a cancer support expert will.
The number 867-5309, made famous by Tommy Tutone's 1981 hit "867-5309/Jenny," is now a hotline for people impacted by cancer.
"I have some family members who are struggling with cancer," Tommy Tutone's singer Tommy Heath, 78, tells PEOPLE exclusively, adding that he is also dealing with "minor" skin cancer.
And, he says, the disease creeps up when you least expect it.
"I'm out on tour with a lot of bands and suddenly somebody's not there," he explains. Cancer, he says, is "affecting us all."
Tommy Heath of Tommy Tutone performs during the "I Want My 80's" tour at Ironstone Amphitheatre on Sept. 16, 2023 in Murphys, Calif.Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
It's why he's teaming up with the Cancer Support Community (CSC) and Gilda's Club (started in honor of the late actress Gilda Radner who died from ovarian cancer in 1989) for a new campaign. Anyone who dials the number made famous by the enduring 1981 smash, "867-5309/Jenny" will be able to chat with professionals.
As CSC CEO Sally Werner tells PEOPLE, "Anyone impacted by cancer can call CSC-867-5309 [272-867-5309] to receive immediate support, trusted information, and personalized guidance from trained specialists at Cancer Support Community."
Heath tells PEOPLE he hopes "when someone is depressed and confused, they'll go, 'Hey, I'll call 867-5309. Somebody's waiting there to help me.' And I hope they smile at that point."
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"That's the way I think it ought to work, and I hope it does," he says, adding that he jumped at the chance to help the cause. "I need to give back to the community, the people who have supported me all these years," he shared. "I'm going to do what I can."
The campaign directs people impacted by cancer to a free helpline staffed by trained professionalsCredit: Klick Health
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Plus, Heath said he was "immediately in" once he learned Gilda's Club would benefit.
"[Gilda Radner] a big hero of mine," he said. "I'm just glad to be involved."
The helpline, Warner notes, is free, and "staffed by trained professionals experienced in supporting individuals impacted by cancer. They are skilled in listening, resource navigation, and compassionate support. Many callers say the Helpline helped them feel heard, informed, and less alone. It often becomes a lifeline during one of the most difficult moments in someone’s life."
"I'd be happy if this was an enduring legacy, and made people smile and give them hope," says Heath, who is hitting the road with a summer tour. (And yes, he'll perform "867-5309/Jenny.") "I'm pretty proud to be part of it."
For more information on the campaign, which was created in partnership with the health marketing agency Klick Health, visit csc8675309.com.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
