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Post by Courage on Aug 8, 2022 14:36:58 GMT -5
Official statement from her husband:
Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the familyโs privacy during this very difficult time.
Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund (ONJFoundationFund.org).
Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall.
- via John Easterling, husband, Olivia Newton-John
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Post by JessieLou on Aug 8, 2022 17:26:18 GMT -5
RIP to a 70's icon
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Post by ziggy2 on Aug 8, 2022 19:08:03 GMT -5
Sad news, she was such a nice person and a great singer.
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Aug 8, 2022 19:43:29 GMT -5
Her role in Grease, as well as its soundtrack, and the streak of her hits that dominated the airwaves in the 70's and 80's will truly remain iconic and legendary. I knew she was ill but this still comes as unexpected R.I.P.
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Vic
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Post by Vic on Aug 9, 2022 11:05:12 GMT -5
We all have our favourite artists and some of you know, Olivia Newton-John has always been my favourite. I had a lot of firsts with Olivia. Our family had a 3 album, K-Tel album called "Today's Super Greats" It had many great hits from 1971 including "If Not For You" which I fell in love with. And I always believed that was her on the cover. As the the 70's rolled on, her hits kept coming. Back in 1978, I was in my early to mid teens (yeah I am aging myself). I think this was before Grease really broke, but I was already into her early hits like "Let Me Be There", "If You Love Me, Let Me Know, Have You Never Been Mellow" and "I Honestly Love You" I bought my first album. This was pre-Grease and I played the heck out of it. The Grease hits followed. On my next birthday, my parents took me to the theatre and I got to see my first movie in the movie theatre. Of course, I chose Grease. I fell in love with Olivia right there and then. But what a movie to watch with your parents. It's quite racy! I of course later saw Xanadu and Two of a Kind in the theatre. I was in heaven. After Grease, came the album Totally Hot, I was now a bonafide fan. This album has been my favourite of hers and contained my favourite song of all time "A Little More Love". No song by any artist will ever come close. By 1980 and the hits of Xanadu I think I drove my friends and family nuts. But I was a fantard. In late 1981, the hits came coming and "Physical" exploded. Spending 10 weeks on the Billboard charts, a rare feat at the time. Olivia was defiantly at her peak. She was everywhere and radio played her all the time. Her concert came around and I went to my first concert. In the mid80's a dream came true and I was lucky to meet Olivia. She was my first celebrity that I was lucky to meet. I went to one of her Koala Blue stores grand opening. And I was lost for words she and her late sister were there to sign my Greatest Hits Vol 2. I still have my Koala Blue mug which I love. The radio hits slowly faded. Olivia was starting a family and soon after she started her cancer journey. But I stuck with her catching any new music, movie and a half a dozen concert experiences. It always bothered me how Olivia was unappreciated by "gold/classic hits" radio stations. She was Billboard's top female vocalist of the 70s and was huge pre-mtv. Yet radio embraced mostly all other female singers Madonna, Cyndi, Whitney, and Tina to name a few. Even ladies from Olivia's era Linda Ronstadt, Donna Summer and Diana Ross would get airplay. But Olivia had very little and it was really just the Grease duets. I found it very frustrating. I think the word "Icon" is thrown around loosely to describe almost any female vocalist from the past 20 years. But Olivia really was. Even without Grease, she had a successful singing career. Then of course there was acting. She was also quite the activist. She stood up for the environment and animal causes. Then of course for cancer awareness. She really deserves respect in the industry. She already had respect of the fans. I knew Olivia was not well. She had stage 4 cancer, I don't think you can heal from that. I knew the day would come but she was a "thriver" and she called herself so I held onto that. So when news broke, I fell apart. the tears came and didn't stop. Olivia was not just a pop star to me. She was family, for me. I spent the rest day of the online and watching the news and seeing how loved she was. And it broke me even more. maybe this is long, but this was my connection and how a "celebrity" can impact a stranger's life. Talented, classy, and kind. Olivia Newton-John
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Post by Courage on Aug 9, 2022 12:49:39 GMT -5
Well said Vic. It sounds like you've been on board since almost the beginning so I can completely understand how hard this can hit you. Sadly I can agree that she was under-appreciated after the early 80s. I rarely if ever heard an ONJ song on the radio other than the Grease Megamix, Hopelessly Devoted to You or Physical (although I did hear the David Foster remix of "I Honestly Love You" a bit on one of the AC stations in 1998). I can also agree that Icon does get used too loosely nowadays, but she definitely defines that word to the truest form.
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Post by ziggy2 on Aug 9, 2022 17:43:07 GMT -5
Great tribute Vic.
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Post by JessieLou on Aug 9, 2022 20:23:33 GMT -5
Vic Love love love your post. Just goes to show how much music and our favorite artists can impact us. So glad you got to meet her and have so many amazing memories with her music โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
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Post by Matt on Aug 10, 2022 8:53:06 GMT -5
Oh Vic, that's wonderful. I'm so happy you got to meet her!
It was a shock for me, hearing this news yesterday. And after just losing Judith recently too, ergh, what a sad week. Olivia was such a lovely person, and seeing all the other artist tributes to her has been sweet. Rest in peace, ONJ.
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Post by billcs on Aug 10, 2022 16:04:59 GMT -5
Very nice tribute Vic! I still have my copy of that Today's Super Greats album (plus an original 45 of If Not For You)!!
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Aug 10, 2022 20:14:53 GMT -5
Vic, when I first heard this news, I thought of you and wondered if you were ok. I'd imagine how hard it is for you to lose your all-time favourite like this. It always bothered me how Olivia was unappreciated by "gold/classic hits" radio stations. She was Billboard's top female vocalist of the 70s and was huge pre-mtv. Yet radio embraced mostly all other female singers Madonna, Cyndi, Whitney, and Tina to name a few. Even ladies from Olivia's era Linda Ronstadt, Donna Summer and Diana Ross would get airplay. But Olivia had very little and it was really just the Grease duets. I found it very frustrating. I can understand why her earlier country stuff has gone lost, but really, from 1978-81 in particular, the songs from that era still sound fresh. Her Greatest Hits Vol. 2 album especially is solid from front to back and basically anything from that would fit right in with classic hits radio. It wouldn't hurt to play "Magic" or "Physical"... both were huge #1 hits! It was a shock for me, hearing this news yesterday. And after just losing Judith recently too, ergh, what a sad week. Olivia was such a lovely person, and seeing all the other artist tributes to her has been sweet. Rest in peace, ONJ. With 2 female icons of Australian music dying this week alone, we have to protect Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, Delta Goodrem and the other great ladies from down under who are still with us....
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Post by Matt on Aug 11, 2022 6:19:38 GMT -5
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Vic
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Post by Vic on Aug 11, 2022 10:20:11 GMT -5
Yeah still gutted from this. But I take comfort knowing she passed and no longer in great pain she had near the end. It just puts a finality in everything. No more new music to record (although there was a duets album coming and hopefully reissues that they started to do and ). No more concerts, no more TV appearances. Its just sad, and for all who pass to those left behind.
It has been really touching to see other artists come out and share....some you don't expect. Reading these has been a lil overwhelming. Paul Stanley of Kiss and Sebastian Bach Skid Row was wow for me. People like Belinda Carlisle, Lisa Loeb And Mariah how they inspired them in their youth. Melissa Etheridge saying Olivia was one of the first to call her when she was first diagnosed with cancer. Richard Marx saying she is one of the only artists that are genuinely real in person without ego. Word is she never said anything bad about anyone so its hard to find someone to have anything against her.
Except, I am looking at you the late George Jones, Charlie Rich and Tammy Wynette among others. When thy raised a country stink when Olivia was winning country music awards because she was an "outsider" to america and her music had broader appeal to more than just country. She along with John Denver and Linda Ronstadt helped pave the way for future country stars to cross over to pop. That was the only real "scandal" she had. But then she was banned on some radio stations for the "suggestive" song Physical which is like a lullaby compared to some of today's hit songs. The video for Physical was also risque when she was show buff guys being "friendly" with each other. The end was apparently clipped out for some to air the video. And for a young gay boy who had very little gay imagery out there to look to. This was huge and important.
There will be a state funeral for her down under coming.
Thanks for the comments. I appreciate it. Its still very sad and will be for a long time.
"A million lights are dancing and there you are, a shooting star. An everlasting world and you're here with me, eternally."
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Post by JessieLou on Aug 12, 2022 18:14:31 GMT -5
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Vic
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Post by Vic on Sept 26, 2022 9:34:36 GMT -5
Today, is Olivia's birthday. I have been counting down my favourite songs from her. A celebration of life.
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