LE CORNER PRESS DE KAY

Remembering Olivia

Stars in music memorial to Newton-John

• Daily Mirror
• 27 Feb 2023
• BY MARK JEFFERIES Showbiz Editor @mirrorjeffers

STARS showed they were hopelessly devoted to Grease legend Olivia Newton-John at a memorial service yesterday.

Olivia, who had a string of No1 hits worldwide, died in August last year aged 73 after several battles with cancer. Thousands in attendance sang along to the Aussie’s songs, which were performed by ex-Neighbours star Delta Goodrem, 38. Dolly Parton, 77, opened the tributes in a video message, saying: “The world lost one of its greatest talents when Olivia left us.”

Sir Elton John, 75, said: “She was such a wonderful force of nature but she was funny, she was kind, she was warm and she was talented and every time we got together we laughed and laughed.’’ Nicole Kidman, 55, added: “She was just a light in this world. “I would perform her songs, when I first saw Grease, I was like ‘I want to be Olivia Newton-John’.” Mariah Carey, Sir Cliff Richard and Barry Gibb also left messages for the service at Hamer Hall, Melbourne, Australia. Olivia’s husband John Easterling, 70, said: “Every day with her was a bit of magic. She was the most courageous woman I’ve ever met.” Her daughter Chloe Lattanzi, 37, added: “My mum could find the beauty in everything. My favourite thing to do was watch her watching the birds and the flowers, smelling her roses.

“And the joy it brought to her face was a thing of beauty.” mark.jefferies@mirror.co.uk

 

DANKE KAY 

IRISH DAILY STAR