Stars Gather For Olivia Newton-John's Memorial Service As Her Daughter Gives Heartbreaking Tribute
By Favour Adegoke on February 27, 2023 at 2:15 AM EST
British-Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John was honored by friends and family at her state memorial service, including Hollywood's A-Listers.
Newton-John died in August last year after losing a decade-long battle with cancer. During the emotional ceremony, her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, admitted to feeling "lost" without her mother.
Read on for more details.
A-List Stars Honor Olivia Newton-John At Her Memorial
At a memorial service held by the Australian state of Victoria, the "Hopelessly Devoted to You" singer's memory was honored.
According to Daily Mail, Newton-John's friend and country singer Dolly Parton paid tribute to her, stating, "The world lost one of its greatest talents when Olivia left us."
She spoke about how it was an honor to have sung and worked with her and how Australians should be proud of her legacy.
Mariah Carey, 53, noted that she was a friend and fan of Newton-John's as she reflected on the opportunity to have met and performed with the icon.
"Her humanitarian work - I just want to salute that and say that not everybody does that. We love you, we love you Olivia Newton-John," the "All I Want For Christmas Is You" singer shared.
Elton John, 75, said of the late singer that she was kind, warm, and talented and that he always looked forward to seeing her.
"The ONJ Centre in Melbourne is a testament to what she did for so many millions of people. She fought her disease with the most incredible courage and a bravery which stays with me forever," he shared.
Other celebrities who were at the memorial included Nicole Kidman, who shared that Newton-John "was just a light in this world" as she reminisced on the late singer's impact on her life growing up.
Cliff Richard, Pink, Hugh Jackman, and Barry Gibb were also among the many notable names that paid tribute to the late singer.
Her Daughter Chloe Lattanzi Gave A Heartbreaking Tribute
Newton-John's daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, was teary while paying tribute to her late mother as she admitted to feeling "lost" without her continued presence.
"I stand here before you so desperately wanting to feel strong and confident and speak eloquently, but the truth is I feel like a little girl lost without her mother," she divulged, per Daily Mail.
Lattanzi, 37, went on to add, "She was my safe space, my guide, my biggest fan, and the Earth beneath my feet. I know she is here standing beside me and within me. I can hear her voice."
She reportedly needed support from her husband, James Driskill, because the emotion was too strong for her to manage without sobbing uncontrollably.
Olivia Newton-John's Husband Also Paid Tribute To Her
John Easterling, the late "Grease" actress's husband, also showed his respect for her by acknowledging the "supernatural" love they shared. He said that Newton-John was a healer as he recounted the first time he set his eyes on her.
"You have to understand I wasn't an Olivia fan, I didn't know any Olivia music, I hadn't even seen Grease and this was a small, intimate theatre in Miami, and the lights went down and I heard Peruvian flutes and she started singing Pearls on a Chain," he narrated.
"And there was healing in the audience, people around me were crying. I got it. It hit me like a laser beam in the chest that Olivia was a healer and this is one of her mediums of healing," the widower added.
Easterling also mused that the late singer felt most at peace in her ranch, pointing out that she had a unique way of bringing people together.
Olivia Newton-John Died Of Cancer
The pop sensation died on her California ranch in August 2022 at age 73 after fighting breast cancer for almost three decades.
Her husband shared the news via Facebook, pointing out that her foundation, the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, will continue to explore and research the medicinal advantages of plants in order to help fight the disease.
"Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends," the post read.
It continued, "Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hopes 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."
