spotlight olivia newton-john
Whether it was helping animals or doing what I could to do my part to preserve our planet. I’ve just always felt we need to help others any way we can. One of the many things that I enjoy about interviewing musicians is how much their music becomes a part of the fabric over time. You will always be identified with a certain moment because of things like Grease and your many hit songs around that time and after. Do you have a sense of how much people identify you with a specific moment in their lives and admire you because of it? You’re very sweet... That means a lot. During my Summer Nights resident show in Las Vegas at the Flamingo, after the show we do a “meet and greet,” where I get to hear beautiful stories from fans from all over the world. I love hearing how certain songs were a big part of their lives, whether it was “I got married to ‘I Honestly Love You,’ or ‘Magic’ was playing when my daughter graduated from school.” All of those stories make me proud that those moments will live forever with fans. Do you have any fan stories that you’d like to share? There are so many beautiful stories and funny
ones too! In fact, a dear friend of mine, Del Shores (Sordid Lives), said to me early on that I was his crush when he was still “straight.” I get that from a lot of my gay male fans. (Laughs) I’ve had a few fans propose in front of me and now that marriage equality is here, the memory makes me even happier! I’ve had a few gay couple’s proposals at my meet and greets and it makes me so happy. Love is love! If you had to name your top five “moments” in your career or your life that stand out for you, what would they be? I would say first and foremost the birth of my daughter, Chloe. And, speaking of my number one, I am so proud that a duet that she and I did last year, “You Have to Believe,” a remake of “Magic” from Xanadu, hit #1 on the Billboard Dance Club chart! The others that come to mind are marrying my husband John Easterling, on a mountaintop in Peru; the summer we filmed Grease; the opening of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in my hometown of Melbourne, Australia and performing at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. How about a story about some of the people that you have worked with: Do you have a favorite? I’ve been very lucky to have worked with some
wonderful people. I guess two of my favorites were dancing with Gene Kelly and John Travolta. Both were so wonderful to me in their own ways when we were filming Xanadu and Grease. You’re returning to a residency at the Flamingo again this summer, how does that compare to touring for you? I love touring and seeing all the different parts
of the world, but, I do love performing in Vegas because it’s such a great city and a wonderful community. It’s the most “normal” job I’ve ever had. (Laughs) I actually have a routine and I get to sleep in the same bed every night! But, what makes me happiest about Vegas is that Caesars and the Flamingo have agreed to donate a portion of every ticket to my cancer and wellness centre in Australia. So every night, it gives me even more purpose to be out on stage, because everyone in the audience is helping someone through their cancer journey by supporting our wellness programs! What would you say are the biggest factors for staying healthy? Have they changed for you over the years? Eating properly and exercising are big factors
for sure—I try to eat organic as often as I can! I also love to be out in nature; that helps keep me balanced! My mum taught me at a very young age to enjoy life and it just keeps getting better and better! Oh, and laughing, that is so important! I laugh at myself sometimes too! You can’t sweat the small things or take yourself too seriously!
Is there anything we’ve missed you want to add? I am so excited, because we just announced a
new CD recording project that I am very proud of. It’s called LIV ON. It is a collaboration with two very dear friends of mine, Beth [Nielsen Chapman] and Amy [Sky] and intended for those who wish to transcend loss while walking a journey toward newfound meaning and hope. As a group, it’s our intention to create songs with a message of compassion and hope with this album. They are for anyone facing a time of challenge in their life, whether it is grieving a loss, or on the journey to health and recovery. It will be available in June and I hope it helps a lot people! Thank you so much for doing this and I can’t wait to see you in March! I look forward to seeing you there!
Olivia Newton-John will be at Pala Casino on Friday, March 25. For tickets and more information, go to
palacasino.com/pa_event/olivia-newton-john. Her next stop is at Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio on Saturday, March 26. For tickets and more information, go to
fantasyspringsresort.com.
Olivia will return to the Flamingo Las Vegas in July. For tickets and more information, go to
olivianewton-john.com.
LIV ON, the album collaboration with Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky she mentions, is due out on Friday, June 10. For more information on the album, go to
livonmusic.com.
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RAGE monthly | MARCH 2016
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