WOMAN'S DAY

JOHN & CHLOE 'OUR UNBREAKABLE BOND'

ONJ’S daughter’s life has been chaotic, but one man changed everything

• Woman’s Day (Australia)
• 20 Feb 2023

Sources say the pair are planning a trip to Australia. Following her mum’s death, Chloe is a “fixture” at her stepfather John’s home.

In her final years, Olivia Newton-john took great joy in watching her husband John Easterling form an unbreakable bond with her daughter Chloe Lattanzi.

Those close to the family tell Woman’s Day that Olivia knew, once she found out that her cancer wasn’t treatable, that John and Chloe “would need each other once she was no longer here”.

“That was Olivia in a nutshell,” says a friend, who reveals that even in the iconic singer’s darkest moments, she was always thinking about other people – “especially her husband and daughter”.

Now, 37-year-old Chloe, who Olivia shared with her former husband and Xanadu co-star Matt Lattanzi, has a strong relationship with her herbalist stepfather – who she lovingly calls “Amazon Dad”.

FAMILY TIES

Even before Olivia’s death, Chloe and John, 70, spent a lot of time together after she moved from Portland to Santa Ynez, California, to be closer to her mum.

Sadly, Olivia passed away shortly after her daughter arrived. But despite that, Chloe has decided to stick around. “She feels closest to her mother’s memory in her home and with the love of her life,” the friend continues.

It’s understood that Chloe, together with her husband, jiujitsu instructor James Driskill, live near Olivia’s sprawling rural ranch, which the late singer transferred ownership to her husband before the 73-year-old died of breast cancer in August.

“Chloe is a fixture at John’s place,” continues the source. “They spend hours at a time reminiscing about Olivia together. John loves having her around.”

‘Chloe feels closest to her mum’s memory in her home’

Chloe and John recently attended a G’day USA event in LA together in honour of Olivia, where he was seen standing supportively with her on stage as she made an emotionally charged speech. Ahead of the big event, John revealed the brave singer faced her cancer journey with everything she had. “Olivia and I were so fortunate to have access to a broad variety of wellness treatments, life-giving wellness treatments, that undoubtedly extended her life and gave her a quality of life that was cheerful and joyful and pain-free without using toxic chemicals or addictive painkillers,” he revealed of the treatments, which included medicinal cannabis. Our source says John is “lovely” to Chloe, who has been open about her battles with an eating disorder and addiction.

Chloe, a singer herself, revealed the research centre will continue “art therapy, music therapy... a lounge where patients who are who are going through cancer together can hang out... There is a garden room, where you can put your feet in the earth. All of these things are essential for healing.

“My mum knew this and [believed], as do I, this is the most important part of healing. This is something that I want to keep alive. And I want to thank you for keeping it alive.”

With John and Chloe working together to continue her legacy, friends say the star’s biggest fears – of leaving her daughter behind to fight for herself – will be squashed.

MEMORIAL PLANS

This week, John and Chloe are preparing to farewell Olivia through her state funeral in Melbourne.

“They often talk about their time in Melbourne with Olivia,” says a source. “She might have lived all over the world, but Victoria was her home – which means it’s a spiritual place for both John and Chloe.

“She’d be so pleased to know they’re getting each other through this.”

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