Katherine Berkery is a former model and real estate agent who stepped into the public eye following a brief relationship with Welsh singer Tom Jones in 1987. That encounter resulted in the birth of her son, Jonathan Berkery, and a high-profile paternity case that made headlines. Unlike her son, who has spoken to the press on several occasions, Katherine has largely stayed out of the spotlight and given very few public interviews about her life.
Early Life and Career
Numerous entertainment sites report that Katherine Berkery was born in South Korea in 1963 and was adopted as a child by a family from New Jersey, growing up in the United States. This account has been repeated across many outlets, but it should be treated as reported rather than confirmed. Her exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed, but she is commonly described as a Korean-American former model who later transitioned into real estate.
Katherine began her modelling career in the 1980s, reportedly working runway shows in Milan, Paris, and New York City. She also worked as a shipping clerk at Regine's, a well-known Manhattan nightclub, during that period. Later, she moved into real estate. In 2006, she took a small acting role in the short film Picture Perfect, written and directed by Brett Meyer, portraying a club-goer.
Relationship with Tom Jones
Katherine Berkery met Tom Jones at a New York nightclub in October 1987. She was 24 at the time, while Jones was 47 and on a US tour. Tom was already married to his wife, Melinda Trenchard, known as Linda. After his performance the next evening, the two had dinner and spent time together at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manhattan. She fell pregnant during the fling.
Her son, Jonathan, was born on 27 June 1988. Tom Jones initially denied paternity, and Katherine took the matter to court in 1989.
The Paternity Case
A judge ordered a DNA test, which confirmed Tom as the father. He was ordered to pay child support until Jonathan turned 18. The famous singer paid $1,700 a month for his son's upkeep. Tom Jones fulfilled the financial obligation, but never built a personal relationship with Jonathan.
Speaking about his dad's absence, Jonathan said: "I don't want anything from my dad, just his recognition. Not having a father growing up was tough. All I ever wanted was his love." He added, "People think I look and sound like a younger version of my dad. I sing all his songs. People stop and stare as soon as I start singing."
Life After the Case
The former model continues to keep a low public profile and has not given a recent interview about her life or her son's career. Jonathan Berkery has spoken publicly about how his father's absence affected him growing up, including struggles with anger, frequent school changes, and substance use as a teenager. "I was very angry. My anger boiled over in school—I fought every kid and rebelled constantly. I lost count of the times I changed schools. I needed a father figure. I leaned towards older bad guys," he said.
In 2008, Tom Jones was quoted as saying about Jonathan: "It wasn't something I had planned. If I had planned it, I would have done something more than just financially. But it wasn't. I just fell for it. I just fell for the seduction." Responding to those words, Jonathan said: "Those words hurt. It wasn't my choice to be born. You don't get to be as famous as my father without being prepared to hurt people along the way."
Jonathan Berkery's Career and Relationship with Father
Katherine Berkery's son, Jonathan, who performs under the stage name Jon Jones, is an aspiring musician known for a deep baritone voice that listeners often compare to his father's. Clips of him busking and performing covers, including some of Tom Jones' classic songs at small venues and on the streets, have circulated widely. Reports describe him still performing locally while working to build a music career following periods of financial hardship, including homelessness, in earlier years.
In 2018, Jonathan disclosed his wish to meet his dad and make peace with him. It was after the singer was admitted to hospital battling a bacterial infection. He spoke about this during an interview with the Sunday Mirror: "He's not well... I want to see my dad and make my peace with him. When I was younger, I was angry and confused. I didn't want to see him. But now I worry about him constantly."
Even so, the father and son duo do not have an active relationship. Sir Tom has previously revealed that he has no interest in forging a relationship with Jonathan because he feels that Katherine Berkery tricked him into unplanned fatherhood.
Current Status
As of 2026, Tom Jones and Jonathan Berkery are still reported to be estranged, with no confirmed meeting between the two. Tom Jones married his childhood sweetheart, Melinda Rose Trenchard, known as Linda, in 1957, when both were 16. Their only child together, Mark Woodward, was born the same year. Mark grew up and became his father's manager in the 1980s. He remains closely involved in Tom Jones' career. Tom Jones' wife, Linda, died in April 2016 at age 75 after a battle with cancer. Tom Jones has not been reported to remarry since her death. Beyond Mark Woodward, Tom Jones' only other child is Jonathan Berkery, born from his 1987 relationship with Katherine Berkery.
Katherine Berkery is a former model whose brief relationship with Tom Jones in 1987 led to a paternity case that placed her, and later her son Jonathan, in the public eye. While she has largely avoided publicity since then, Jonathan has spoken openly about growing up without a relationship with his famous father. As of July 2026, the two remain estranged.
