Big Interview with Dan Rather

A great interview with Dan Rather during Olivia's Las Vegas residency. Dan even gets a serenade of Have You Never Been Mellow, Olivia taking his hand for the line you need someone to take your hand.

It is surprising that the two haven't met before and Olivia, in her usual style, compliments Dan telling him that everyone she knows loves him and that they all say hi including her husband John.

All the topics you'd expect are covered and more, including Olivia's career and her country controversy, she jokes that she has yet to see the banks of the Ohio. Of course her Gaia retreat and Cancer Wellness Centre are covered and photos shown from Olivia's visits to patients in the Centre. There's also great footage from Olivia's Summer Nights show in Vegas

Olivia speaks about her childhood in quite some depth. How her father had to move away from his job at Ormond College, Melbourne University after his divorce from Olivia's mother because he was then unmarried. It broke her father's heart as he loved the job. He moved to Newcastle University which was a two hour flight from where Olivia and her mom were living. Money was short so her father paid for her to visit him but that meant Olivia only saw him once a year at Christmas.

Dan mentions that Olivia never capitalised on her potential sex symbol image Maybe because I can't Olivia replies laughing. After Physical her record company wanted a sexy look and she did the Soul Kiss photo shoot with Helmut Newton. She was very uncomfortable with that look, after that I went back to being myself.

Dan ends the interview with a few insightful questions What she wanted that her parents never gave her? - No one's asked me that question before. A happy home. Olivia explaining that there was a lot of fighting and for many years she had a problem with raised voices.
Fear the most? - something happening to those she loves.
The Billboard Olivia is most proud of - at her Melbourne hospital The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness Research Centre.
Song to be played her memorial service? - Grace and Gratitude.

Olivia and Dan have clearly both enjoyed the interview and Olivia tells Dan that he's made it very comfortable for her. The program ends with footage of Olivia singing I Honestly Love You live on stage in Las Vegas.

You can view the whole interview here.