OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FAMOUS FACES PAY TRIBUTE

HELLO! (UK)
7 Mar 2023
REPORT: LAURA BENJAMIN

A-listers bid farewell

As one of the most famous entertainers ever to have hailed from Australia, it was fitting that Dame Olivia Newton-John should be given a very special send-off. And she certainly was, with stars including Sir Elton John, Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton and Hugh Jackman all taking part in last week’s state memorial for the Grease actress, who died in August last year aged 73. She had been living with breast cancer on and off since 1992.

Sir Elton and Mariah were among those who paid tribute via video at the moving service, which was held at Hamer Hall in Melbourne, Australia. “She was such a wonderful force of nature. She was funny, kind, warm and talented, and every time we got together, we laughed and laughed and laughed,” the Candle in the Wind singer told the thousands of fans who watched the memorial. “Throughout her career, I watched her grow and grow and grow to be the artist she became.”

Of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, which the star set up in Melbourne in 2012 to help others, he said: “It is a testament to what she did for so many millions of people. She fought her disease with the most incredible courage and a bravery that stays with me forever.”

Mariah said in her tribute: “She really affected my life. As a little girl, I loved her so much. Grease was probably the first movie I ever saw. I looked up to her so much and when I got to meet her, she was just as nice as she was a star.”

During the ceremony, Olivia’s husband John Easterling, to whom she was married from 2008 until her death, and her daughter Chloe Lattanzi paid tributes that left many fans in tears. “She’s been honoured by prime ministers and presidents and the Queen… but what made her most happy was being at the ranch, being with the horses, being with the chickens and the dogs and the cat, or sitting in the courtyard just listening to bird songs,” John said, adding: “She was the most courageous woman I’ve ever met.”

‘She was such a wonderful force of nature. She was funny, kind, warm and talented’

Sir Elton John

REMEMBERING A MOTHER

Singer and actress Chloe received a standing ovation. “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. I loved making her tea and then making it five times again until I got it right,” the 37-year-old said.

“I loved our snuggles. I would crawl into bed with her late at night, even if I was 20 years old. I loved the way she smelled. I love how she loved fully and completely.”

Former Neighbours actress Delta Goodrem performed a medley of Olivia’s greatest hits during the service, while others who spoke about the singer and actress via video link included musicians Barry Gibb, Dolly Parton and Sir Cliff Richard, as well as Australian actress Nicole Kidman, who described how she was inspired by Olivia.

“She was just a light in this world, which I think all of us feel. And I grew up with her, listening to her – I would perform her songs at school. When I first saw Grease, I was like: ‘I want to be Olivia Newton-John.’ So to be able to pay tribute to her tonight is incredibly important to all of us. We all send you our love, Livvie,” she said.