Tell me more, tell me more - Olivia - Envy Man Issue 8

Editor - Probably from about mid-2006, the album mentioned in this interview is the original version of Grace and Gratitude. Envy Man was a large-format publication, sadly no more.

Jackie! C'mere boy, Olivia shouts into the phone in her beautiful Aussie accent. Turns out she and her entourage have stopped the tour bus for a break in Kansas, one of the many states the timeless singer we all continue to love stops in for her concert tour. Jackie, by the way, is Olivia's constant companion, an Irish setter who has become her best friend on the road and, as she says, just fills her heart.

Every last person who picks up this magazine knows in his heart of hearts he has at some point broken out into an Olivia Newton-John song. It seems we just could never resist the temptation in our hearts to swoon over some guy singing Hopelessly Devoted To You, poured out our souls with friends to Summer Nights, danced in spandex (am I dating myself) to Let's Get Physical, or, my personal favorite, put the CD on repeat after a fight with a boyfriend to hear Olivia croon / Honestly Love You.

Talent, compassion, and strength are the qualities we look for in an icon, and Olivia embraces each of these assets with a candor that is completely uncommon in entertainment today. In a time when music is about a sample, a rap, a chorus repeated to death, Olivia Newton-John has reclaimed and retuned to the style of music that sets her apart and makes her voice so unique.

Because of all the love and support she has given to so many, it almost seems unfair that her life has been marred recently by tragedy. Divorced young, diagnosed with breast cancer, and last year losing her boyfriend of several years... many people often wonder aloud, how do you go on? But it is that need and drive that have gotten Olivia to the place where she is hitting the road again in support of her new CD Grace and Gratitude.

This new album is about everything, Olivia explains. When you can get up in the morning and see a beautiful blue sky, or a tree... no matter where you look, you can always find something beautiful. We need to be thankful for what we do have. Feeling gratitude makes you feel good and can offer a feeling of wellbeing. When you say thank you, it makes you feel good. This is what makes my heart feel full.

In that lies Olivia's appeal for four decades, her ability to stand up and be strong and show the rest of us that no matter what, life goes on, and you have to find a way to rise above the hard times.

In order to see her vision through, Olivia found herself going back to basics. The music is much simpler, with classic production styles that allow Olivia's voice to shine through with an elegance that spills out in her sweet sounds.

The CD is also very spiritual. When I was going through the healing process, we started with body's charkas as a principle for the music. Then, we (producer and friend Amy Sky) used the followings of Deepak Chopra as a guide to travel by. Amy said, 'I want you to go back to the purity of your voice and think of your self as a wind instrument!! The CD is much more spiritual, but not a religious record. The lyrics are simple and elegant, but tell a relatable story that I believe anyone can follow. It's a message of hope that I believe can transcend any religious belief.

When pressed to how that applies to the times we live in, Olivia has an insightful opinion, It's terribly sad that so many wars have been about people's definition of God. It's a shame we can't accept everyone's views and be respectful of them.

The marketing of Grace & Gratitude is also unique; you can only find it at Walgreen's and through Olivia's website. The company approached me about doing a project, and I realized that this was an opportunity to do something different. With the CD we tell stories of inspiration, but I wanted to do more.

Walgreen's has created a breast self-examination kit to aid women in early detection, which is so important, and is helping to carry Olivia's message of education about the disease one step further.

One step further is what Olivia's career has always been about. With a girl next door quality and effortless charm, many would like to dismiss her as the nice girl, not a strong independent woman. It's that duality in sweetness and strength that lead to her casting in her signature role as Sandy in the classic movie musical Grease.

When I do shows now, there are little girls (and a few gay boys, of course) who are with parents and grandmothers. After shows I love hearing how these little children still watch the movie! We had no idea it would have such a lasting influence. It's a pleasure to be a part of something that is a landmark and still so popular!

On the gay community, Olivia admits to not realizing early on that she had so many gay fans. Like every celebrity, there were rumors that I was gay because, I'm guessing, my pictures were up in gay bars. I had no idea they were or why. But I am so grateful to the gay community for being so supportive over the years. This is such a family full of loyalty and honesty. You people are just wonderful! I don't understand why so many want to separate the gay community from any of us. You are a part of us.

Education and self-awareness are the mantras and inspiration Olivia now sings. We all need to learn to love ourselves more.

Today on tour she sings Let's Get Physical now sitting down and to a bossa nova beat. It's my age-appropriate version, Olivia says with a laugh. Maybe for some people it's age appropriate, but for the rest of us it's timeless.

As the boys and girls sang to you and John Travolta, Olivia, and my friends and I belted in karaoke, Tell me more, Tell me more, More! MORE! {EM}