Farewell to the Girl with the Golden Heart

A special tribute to Olivia, the one that we'll always want

S he'll be remembered by fans for lighting up the stage and screen, but it's the private Olivia Newton-John - the wife, the mother, the friend - that her loved ones are mourning.

The devoted family woman is survived by her husband of 14 years, John Easterling, who announced the news of her death on social media, revealing the beloved entertainer "passed away peacefully" at her ranch in southern California on 8 August "surrounded by family and friends" The 70-year-old naturalhealth businessman went on to describe how Olivia "has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years, sharing her journey with breast cancer".

The singer's only child, daughter Chloe Lattanzi, 36, also paid tribute to her "angel on earth", calling her treasured mum "my safe place, my heart space" Arguably Australia's most beloved global star, Olivia was first diagnosed with cancer in 1992 and, after 20 years in remission, it returned in 2013, discovered only after she hurt her shoulder in a car crash.

Following a brief respite, in 2017, it had metastasised in her lower back, for a time robbing the Hopelessly Devoted singer of the ability to walk.

At first, the star admitted she thought it was sciatica and would "grit my teeth, take a few aspirin and go on". She explained, "I was surprised the cancer had returned. In my mind, it was over. I had finished with it."

Despite the diagnosis being stage four, brave Olivia declared the show must go on. “I thought to myself, ‘I’ve done it before. I got through this before and I can do it again.’”