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Olivia Newton-John’s final wish to have ashes scattered in Byron Bay

Olivia Newton-John's final wish to have ashes scattered in Byron Bay

Olivia Newton-John revealed exactly what she wanted to happen after her death in an interview filmed before she passed away.

In a never-before-seen interview which aired during Seven special Spotlight: Olivia – A Magical Life on Sunday night, the Australian entertainment icon explained that she wanted some of her ashes scattered in Byron Bay, some at her property in California and “in other places I love”.

The ashes of Newton-John’s late mother and sister were also scattered in the popular coastal northern NSW town, where the actress owned a property until last year.

“I don’t think I’ve really thought about it that deeply. We all should,” Newton-John said in the previously unknown footage.

“But I’d like to be with them, I’d like to be with them… that would be nice.”

Newton-John, whose starring role in grease in 1978 made her world famous, died at her ranch in California last week following a long battle with breast cancer.

She was first diagnosed with the disease in 1992, but it went into remission before it reappeared in 2013 and then again in 2017.

The Seven special also featured tributes from some of her oldest and closest friends, including Sir Cliff Richard and Bee Gees legend Barry Gibb, who described her as “a diamond”.

“And in this world there’s only a few diamonds,” he said.

“There were all these wonderful female artists and then there was Olivia Newton-John.”

Newton-John’s heartbroken family have accepted the offer of a state funeral from Victoria’s state government, with Premier Daniel Andrews confirming the news last Thursday.

“This will be much more of a concert than a funeral, I think it will be a celebration of such a rich and generous life,” he said.

“Olivia Newton-John was a very special person and to take her cancer journey and to turn that into more research, better treatment, better care and this focus on wellness, is such an amazing legacy and that’s why I think we all feel the pain of her passing.”

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Daniel Andrews’ Olivia Newton-John Gaffe

Daniel Andrews' Olivia Newton-John Gaffe

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has made an awkward gaffe while posting a tweet announcing a state memorial service for Olivia Newton-John that missed her name.

The iconic Australian singer, who starred in the hit musical Grease, died aged 73 at her home in southern California on Monday, after a long battle with breast cancer.

Ms Newton-John’s death triggered an outpouring of heartfelt condolences from celebrities and fans all over the world and prompted Mr Andrews to offer her family a state memorial service for the star.

“I’m so pleased that Olivia Newton-John’s family have accepted our offer of a State Memorial Service,” Mr Andrews’ official account tweeted.

The spelling error, in which an extra “w” was added to “Newton”, was quickly pointed out by followers who accused the premier of making the service about himself instead of honoring Ms Newton-John.

“It’s Newton NOT Newtown. With the amount we pay for your PR team they could get the spelling right,” one person wrote.

“Her name was Olivia NEWTON John. You’re absolutely embarrassing,” another posted.

Several Twitter users claimed that the error was disrespectful because it allegedly showed a lack of attention to detail.

“At least have the respect to spell her name correctly,” one wrote.

Olivia Newton-John. With respect Premier, please be mindful of the correct spelling,” another advised.

And: “You can’t even get her name right. So much for respect.”

Earlier, Mr Andrews said he spoke to Ms Newton-John’s niece, former Neighbors star, Tottie Goldsmith to discuss plans.

“I can update that I’ve spoken with Tottie Goldsmith this morning and she, on behalf of the family, have accepted my offer of a state service,” he said.

“This will be much more of a concert than a funeral, I think it will be a celebration of such a rich and generous life.

“As I said the other day, Olivia Newton-John was a very special person and to take her cancer journey and to turn that into more research, better treatment, better care and this focus on wellness, is such an amazing legacy and that’s why I think we all feel the pain of her passing.”

Mr Andrews said the family was touched by the Australian public’s outpouring of grief following Ms Newton-John’s death.

“There will be further discussions, those discussions have started today, but there will be further discussions in my department and the family about what’s appropriate,” he said.

“I think giving Melburnians and Victorians and indeed people who travel from other parts of the country and maybe even the world to be here to celebrate such an important, rich and generous life — that was the right thing to do.”

“And I must say, it’s very clear to me the family were quite touched by the prospect of Victorians being able to come together and celebrate Olivia’s life.”

The British-born actor and singer, who moved to Melbourne aged six, identified as Australian and became a devoted advocate for cancer research.

Her family will hold a private funeral for Ms Newton-John in the US – where she has lived for decades.

She is survived by husband John Easterling and daughter Chloe Lattanzi.

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Olivia Newton-John daughter Chloe Lattanzi: Grease star made pact with God

Olivia Newton-John daughter Chloe Lattanzi: Grease star made pact with God

Olivia Newton-John once said she was “looking forward to” death because of previous interactions with “spirits”.

The comments came in a resurfaced 2021 podcast interview where she also said she had made a pact with God to save her daughter Chloe Lattanzi before she was born after the grease star suffered complications during her pregnancy.

The entertainment legend died on Monday at her ranch in California following an extraordinary three-decade-long battle with breast cancer which had seen her repeatedly triumphing over the disease only for it to later reappear once more.

In February last year, Newton-John appeared on Sarah Grynberg’s A Life of Greatness podcast.

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The Xanadu actor explained that she did not fear passing on during her 30-year cancer battle because she believed there was something beyond the world of the living, reported the new york post.

“We all know we’re going to die, but I think we spend our lives in denial. It’s extremely personal, so it’s hard to put into words.

“I feel that we are all one thing, and I’ve had experiences with spirits and spirit life. I believe there is something that happens.”

She added: “I hope the energies of the people you love will be there. … I think all the love will be there. I’m sort of looking forward to that—not now, but when it happens.

“It’s almost like we are parts of the same computer and we go back to the main battery.”

Pact with God

On the same podcast she also talked about how she was so worried about her pregnancy with daughter Chloe, now 36, that she told God she would make a deal to keep her yet to be born baby safe.

“I was close to losing her,” she told Grynberg.

“I went to bed and asked God to save her and if he did, I would say the Lord’s Prayer every night for the rest of my life and so I have.”

In the family statement, her husband John Easterling said Newton-John “passed away peacefully” early on Monday morning US time surrounded by family and friends.

“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, ”her statement she read.

John Travolta’s touching tribute

In a post to Instagram, John Travolta praised Newton-John.

“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much,” he wrote.

“We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”

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Olivia Newton-John in flashback photo with Daryl Braithwaite

Olivia Newton-John in flashback photo with Daryl Braithwaite

What are the odds that two of Australia’s biggest music stars attended the same primary school together?

A school photo of the late Olivia Newton-John alongside horses hit maker Daryl Braithwaite has emerged, unearthing the little-known fact the duo attended school together.

Braithwaite, 73, shared the black-and-white class photo taken at Christ Church Grammar School in Melbourne in 1961 – some 15 years before Newton-John shot to global superstardom on grease.

“This is a lovely shot to look back at when Olivia was at (school) with all her friends back in 1961. Olivia is 2nd from the right and 3rd row from the bottom,” Braithwaite wrote.

He added: “She also loved all animals and was a beautiful soul who left a legacy that will last forever.”

Braithwaite has previously opened up about how the duo were briefly “boyfriend and girlfriend” while attending school, before Newton-John moved to London in her teens.

“She was one of the prettiest girls in the class, (we were) 11 or 12 I think,” he told The Morning Show in 2017.

“I don’t know how, we must have sat next to each other and thought, ‘Oh yeah that’s good’ and we were talking and then we held hands and then it was over.”

He further opened up about the pair being school sweethearts in an interview with now to lovein 2020.

“Olivia won’t mind saying that we did start out as boyfriend and girlfriend back when we were around 12 or 13 at the most,” he said.

“We held hands and we were in the same class. But then it all disintegrated. I think she left and went to England. I never actually knew that she could sing at the time.”

At the time, Braithwaite said the old friends were still connecting all these years later.

“It is one of those friendships where there was a decade, or maybe more, where we didn’t speak to each other, mainly because we were too busy or whatever, but over the last year or so I have made more contact with her than ever before, and she is lovely, she really is,” he said.

Newton-John died at her ranch in California on Tuesday aged 73, after a decades-long battle with breast cancer.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. It went into remission but reappeared in 2013 and then again in 2017. At one point she said she was partly in “denial” about the disease, because if she dwelled upon it too much it would mean she wouldn’t “enjoy life”.

Her family, including husband John Easterling and daughter Chloe Lattanzi, have accepted Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ offer of a state funeral to honor her legacy and celebrate her life.

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Olivia Newton-John’s family indicates it would accept state funeral for Grease star

Olivia Newton-John's family indicates it would accept state funeral for Grease star

The family of Australian icon Olivia Newton-John is still in talks with the Victorian government about how the state will honor the late singer.

Newton-John, best known for her role as Sandy in the 1978 classic Grease, died on Monday, local time, at her ranch in southern California.

She had been diagnosed with cancer.

When asked during a press conference on Tuesday whether he would consider offering the family a state funeral, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he wanted to speak with them, citing Newton-John’s “amazing” contributions.

“I was honored to meet Olivia Newton-John on many different occasions, particularly in connection with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre,” Mr Andrews said.

“An absolutely supreme talent, a person of grace, a person of such energy and vitality.

“She took her cancer journey and used that to save lives and change lives.”

On Wednesday a spokesperson for the Premier said they were still talking to the family and no formal offer of a service had been made yet.

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta dancing in a scene from Grease. Both are wearing black.
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in an iconic scene from Grease.(Paramount Pictures)

Newton-John’s daughter Totti Goldsmith told Nine’s A Current Affair program on Tuesday the family would accept an offer of a state funeral.

“I think Australia needs it,” Goldsmith said.

Landmarks turn pink for Newton-John

Buildings in Melbourne bathed in a pink light
Buildings at Melbourne’s arts center were bathed in a pink glow in memory of Olivia Newton-John.(ABC News: Simon Tucci)

Born in the UK, Newton-John moved to the Victorian capital as a child.

The performer was a tireless campaigner for breast cancer research during her lifetime, having been diagnosed with the disease herself.

The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Center continues to operate at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne’s east.

Last night, landmarks including Flinders Street Station and the Melbourne Cricket Ground turned pink in honor of Newton-John’s legacy.

Buildings in Melbourne bathed in a pink light
The star moved to Melbourne as a child.(ABC News: Joseph Dunstan)

Visit ABC iview for our Remembering Olivia Newton-John collection.

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Vanessa Amorosi stops Sunrise interview after Olivia Newton-John’s death

Vanessa Amorosi stops Sunrise interview after Olivia Newton-John's death

Australian singer Vanessa Amorosi appeared overcome with emotion and had to bow out of her live interview on Sunrise this morning, having only just learned of the death of Olivia Newton-John.

Amorosi was booked to appear on the program to discuss her new single, having just performed at the closing ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

But with Newton-John’s death aged 73 after a long cancer battle being the biggest news of the morning, Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch were keen to first ask Amorosi about her memories of the star.

“It is an incredibly sad day – Vanessa, what are your memories?” Barr asked as they crossed to the Aussie singer in Birmingham.

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“Uh… I don’t know. I don’t particularly want to think about it, because I’ll get very emotional,” Amorosi began. “I just literally had one of the highest endorphins that just happened out there (at the closing ceremony), to being extremely sad coming offstage and checking my phone. I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet.”

Koch said he’d give Amorosi a chance to “compose” her thoughts about the late music legend, and changed tack to discuss her Commonwealth Games performance and new single.

A few minutes later, and with the interview nearing its end, the hosts moved the topic of conversation back to Olivia Newton-John.

“We know it’s a sad day for you and so many people, but we wanted to show this photo from quite a few years ago of you, Olivia Newton-John and Tina Arena,” Barr said, as a photo of the three Aussie singers at the Sydney 2000 Olympics appeared on screen.

“Can you talk us through those memories, that time, Vanessa?”
Amorosi gave it her best – but soon became overcome with emotion.

“Both of these women I have looked up to since (I was) a kid… I don’t know. I’m actually very sad about Olivia, to be honest. It’s..”

With that, she bowed her head and raised her hand, signaling the interview to stop.

Barr and Koch thanked her for her time – and Barr noted how hard it must’ve been to learn the news between a live performance and a live TV interview.

“I’m horrible. I feel for her, after coming off that.”

It’s been an emotional morning on breakfast television as friends, colleagues and fans of Newton-John have reacted to the news of her death in real time, after it broke at around 5:30am AEST.

Over on Nine, veteran entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins at first held it together as he reported the sad news on Today – but later in the morning, he was overcome with emotion, sobbing as host Karl Stefanovic rushed to comfort him.

And back on Sunriseanother emotional live interview, this time on the streets of Los Angeles with Grease casting director Joel Thurm, who wept openly as he described his fond memories of Newton-John.

The British-born, Melbourne-raised entertainer had waged a decades-long battle against cancer, which returned again in 2013.

In May 2017, she announced her breast cancer had returned and metastasized to her sacrum, and in 2018, it was revealed she was again battling the disease.

In October last year, Newton-John revealed that she was battling Stage 4 breast cancer but was managing the pain with medical marijuana.

Then today came the news fans had been fearing for years: Newton-John had died at her Southern Californian ranch, surrounded by loved ones, including her husband, John Easterling, and daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.

Chloe has today paid tribute to her late mum on social media – who she just days ago referred to as her “best friend.”

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