Dolly Parton, Elton John and other friends and relatives have Sunday
paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John. The British-Australian singer died last year at the age of 73 from breast cancer.
The service was held in a concert hall in Melbourne and could be followed via a live stream. Dolly Parton, Elton John and Mariah Carey paid tribute to Newton-John with videos. “The world lost one of its greatest talents when Olivia left us,” Parton said.
“I know it’s especially painful for all the people out there in Australia because she’s one of you,” she said. “As a country you should be very proud and know that the whole world mourns with you.”
Mariah Carey called herself “a fan and friend” of the singer. “I just want to thank her here. She really impacted my life. I loved her so much as a little girl, Grease was probably the first movie I ever saw.”
Newton-John’s widower: ‘I had nothing to do with her music’
Singer Elton John described the singer and actress as “funny” and “friendly”. “She was warm and she was talented and every time we got together we laughed and laughed and laughed.”
Singer Pink called her one of “the kindest” people in the world. Actor Hugh Jackman said he was “obsessed” with the movie Grease when he was young and had a poster of Olivia Newton-John hanging on his wall.
Among the thousands in attendance on Sunday was John Easterling, Newton-John’s widower. “Every day with Olivia was magical,” a visibly emotional Easterling recalled. He confessed that when he met her in the 1990s, he had nothing to do with her music and had never seen Grease.
“You have to understand that I was not an Olivia fan,” he said. However, the two found each other in their shared interest in nature and natural healing. However, once he heard Olivia sing, he experienced the “healing power” of her voice.
