Olivia Exposed, Hollywood Stars' Secrets tell all
She’s already a legend in our eyes, but Olivia Newton-John has now been declared a legend in the US, too.
The beautiful, triple grammy-winning diva has received her greatest ever tribute in a TV special to be shown in America in June. Olivia’s closest friends and some of the world’s hottest names have come together to make a heartfelt tribute to the extraordinary life and career of the stellar performer on one of America’s most prestigious television shows.
Livvy’s closest friends including musicians Pat and John Farrar, Sir Cliff Richard, John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, Deepak Chopra and Olivia’s best friend Nancy Chuda have shared their most intimate and private thoughts about their long-time friend in a revealing one hour special for the NBC’s Headliners and Legends show.
Olivia is thrilled to appear on the program that has already paid tribute to the cream of showbiz, including Nancy Sinatra and Dean Martin. 2She is absolutely flattered,” one friend said. “It’s a very emotional thing for her, she really appreciates the enormous effort all these people have gone to for her.”
Some of her oldest and dearest friends from around the world are giving her enormous accolades. “She’s been very gracious and humble about the whole thing. She’s knocked back This is your Life, so this is pretty special.”
Not forgetting her Australian roots, the show features a special Australian segment hosted and coordinated by Olivia’s long-time friend, former ABC newsreader Sue Mclntosh.
Aussie icon Billy Thorpe, Olivia’s sister Rona Newton-John and long-time friend Steve Kipner, who wrote her hit single Physical, will also pay tribute.
While fiercely protective of her private life, Olivia’s 14-year-old daughter Chloe, from her marriage to Matt Lattanzi, will make a rare appearance on camera. The appearance will cement Chloe’s sudden leap from child to young woman. In typical teenage fashion, the once chubby girl has shot up and spread her wings, seemingly shedding her puppy fat overnight. But Olivia has remained guarded about her passionate relationship with cameraman Patrick McDermott.
This tribute show is the latest in a string of accolades that have been bestowed upon the beautiful Aussie entertainer. Last year, Olivia received a humanitarian award from the Red Cross and received the Women of the 21st Century award for her devotion to charity work.
Aussie pal and former actor Chantal Contouri says no one is more deserving than Olivia. “She’s singularly the most important person in my life. She’s been there through all the ups and downs, the good and the bad, her friendship is so important to me. A sister couldn’t provide the love and support that Olivia gives. She’s so generous with her love to all of her close friends.”
“I’ve always loved Olivia. She holds a very special place in my heart and no one is more deserving of this tribute than her.”
“She was one of Australia’s true pioneers in the world music scene. Along with Peter Allen, she really put Australia on the map. No one has had a career like hers. She put the footsteps in the sand before anybody and paved the way for Australian music overseas.”
The show will highlight some never before seen footage of Olivia’s career, and delves into her rise to fame from her early days in Australia. But it is the deeply moving personal tributes which promise to be the real tear-jerkers.
Long-time friend and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra, who helped Olivia overcome the heartbreak of her divorce and battle with breast cancer, describes her as a spiritual goddess. “She is a good friend I love her very much. She is a strong woman and a highly evolved being. She is a woman who has embraced herself and clearly, the world has also embraced her.”
The fitting tribute caps off an amazing year for Olivia, who’s career has been completely rejuvenated. Now in the midst of a sell-out tour of the United States, she has also just starred in a new movie, Sordid Lives, playing the role of offbeat country singer Bitsy Mae Harling. Her first big screen role since Xanadu, the movie will be released later this year and is expected to be a box-office smash.
By Sue Smethurst. Main photo: Michelle Day.