Olivia talks show business, health issues and tour
10s
Photos: Olivia Newton-John tapes a TV show in Paris, on Nov. 25, 1978. Georges Bendrihem/AFP/Getty Images
Olivia Newton-John performs at Flamingo Las Vegas in 2014. She finished a three-year residency at the casino in 2017. By Denise Truscello
Olivia Newton-John (from left), tenor Peter Brocklehurst and tennis legend Jim Courier attend the Australian Open Centenary Ball on Jan. 29, 2005 in Melbourne. By Kristian Dowling/Getty Images
President George W. Bush joins singers Wynonna Judd (left) and Olivia Newton-John after their performances on June 24, 2007, for the Ford's Theatre Gala in Washington, D.C. By Mike Theiler/AFP/Getty Images
By Randy Cordova
Let's be honest: Olivia Newton-John is a show-business institution.
Blessed with a grounded, unpretentious personality, the Aussie singer probably would scoff at the notion. But she has 15 Top 10 pop hits in the States, including such memorable favorites as I Honestly Love You,
Have You Never Been Mellow
and Hopelessly Devoted to You.
Audiences have adored her winsome personality for decades. And, come on: Grease?
In recent years, she has recorded thoughtful, intensely personal discs that focus on themes of healing, such as "Grace and Gratitude" and last year's Liv On.
Away from show biz, her work at Australia's Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre has proved to be a spiritually rewarding passion project.
The latter is especially close to her heart. In 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She thought the disease was behind her after treatment; however, she announced in May the disease had returned and spread to her back. She is undergoing treatment as she heads out for a series of tour dates.
Newton-John, 69, cheerful and quick to laugh, called to discuss her live show, her healing process and whether she's a diva.
Question: You sing the hits in concert, but do you include any of your newer material?
Answer: We do a couple of Liv On
songs from the album I did with Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky, but we pretty much do all the songs people would expect and like to hear.
Q: With so many hits, are there any that make you think, “Not this one again?”
A: No, not really. When I change things, it’s usually because of the running order or to change up the show a little. Some people come over and over, and you want the show to change. But the basic hits are always there.
Q: In concert, Sheena Easton jokes about how much longer she can sing her sexy songs.
Can you relate to that with Physical?
A: (Laughing). Yes, I can! I sing it differently on this tour. It's a slow arrangement. The last time I was out, about a month ago, I wasn’t wanting to jump around. You have to be a little bit age appropriate, you know? But it’s a funny song, so it all works.
Q: Some of your more recent albums, like Grace and Gratitude
and Liv On,
seem to have different goals than your previous work. Has your relationship with music changed?
A: I think as you mature, you kind of find a different purpose or reason for music. I’m not looking for hit songs so much. I had fantastic songs, but now I’m recording music that means something to me. I had a Christmas record with John Farnham that was No. 1 in Australia last year (Friends for Christmas
), and I love singing with him. But Liv On
and Grace and Gratitude
both came after personal difficulty and loss, and the music came out of that, as a healing process.
Q: When you tell people about those albums, the concepts can sound kind of downbeat. But they’re not when you listen to them.
A: I tell people they’re hopefully inspiring songs to help you get through to the other side. There’s no way to get through anything but to go through it. Those songs helped me to heal and from what I hear back, they have helped other people to heal, so that’s good.
Q: What are you more proud of: The personal albums or the hits?
A: Oh, that’s difficult. I feel grateful for all my successes. I guess I’m proud of the songs I’ve written myself, but I’m very, very grateful for all the songs that John Farrar wrote for me, songs like You’re the One That I Want,
Have You Never Been Mellow
and Magic.
They’re still great songs. A good song you can sing with just a guitar or a piano, and they still sound good. They’re all special to me. I’m just lucky.
Q: Are you nostalgic?
A: No. I’m a now person. No one knows about the future, you only know the moment you’re living in, and I’m grateful for that moment. I tend not to look back. I mean, I’m always happy when someone brings up something for me to sign or see, but I don’t think about my career. My light and my life were my daughter’s birth, meeting my new husband, all those things.
Q: The cancer center is also a big part of your life.
A: It's a very big part of my life. I was just in Australia and we had a walk and a gala. I had the wonderful opportunity of going to Canberra, the Australian Washington, to ask for funding for my cancer wellness center and to talk about medical cannabis I've been using. It's a very maligned plant that has many healing properties and people need to rethink how they think about it. But absolutely: The hospital I'm passionate about, the wellness I'm passionate about and now we have a research institute. We're doing some amazing things and I'm very excited.
Q: You say you don’t look back, but I read you’re working on an autobiography. How does that work?
A: (Laughing) Well, I’m only telling happy stories. I’m only telling positive things, no gossipy stuff. The negative stuff I will probably leave out, and that’s all right. I’ve had a very wonderful life. A lot of things I haven’t thought about come back when I’m doing the book. These memories suddenly creep back in!
Q: So, did you really win a Hayley Mills lookalike contest as a child?
A: It’s true! I was, I think, 12, and she had just done Whistle Down the Wind.
My sister sent in my photograph and I won it. I did look like her at that age.
Q: Did you ever meet her and tell her the story?
A: Hmm… I don’t think I’ve met her… Wait, I know I met her sister, Juliet. But I can’t in this minute remember if I've met Hayley.
Q: Do you ever get starstruck?
A: Oh yeah. When I was younger, a lot, but now, maybe not so much. (Laughing) Robert Redford when I was very young? Oh, yes!
Q: Even now he could probably make you starstruck.
A: Exactly. What a charming man!
Q: Obviously, your health has been in the news. How are you feeling?
A: Really well.
Q: Does it help to work through a time like this?
A: I love music and I love to sing. It’s part of the healing for me. These shows that I’m doing were shows that I postponed earlier in the year because I had to. Now, I’m fulfilling them. The first few were kind of strange. I would think, “Oh, I hope I can do it” because I’d been home for four months. But it was wonderful. It was a lovely experience.
Q: You still get nervous before shows?
A: Of course! That’s a part of it.
Q: Are you a diva offstage?
A: (Laughing) I don’t think I’m a diva. I’m going to ask my assistant. (She asks away from the phone) Am I a diva? (back to phone). She says no! I don’t even like the word. The way I was brought up, you’re a professional and you don’t do all that stuff.
Q: So you don’t have anything crazy in your concert rider?
A: (Laughing) I don’t think I’m really crazy. I’m boring! Now, I know some people like their dressing rooms covered in white fabric. I just want the ability to make a good cup of tea! Tea and milk, that’s probably the most diva-ish thing on the rider. Maybe sliced lemons if I'm really going wild?
Olivia Newton-John, When: 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8., Where: Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Salt River Reservation. Admission: $65-$125.