Farewell to THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN HEART

She’ll be remembered by fans for lighting up the stage and screen, but it’s the private Olivia NewtonJohn – 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 August 8 “surrounded by family and friends”.

The 70-year-old natural-health 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.”

Australia and indeed the world mourned last week, when Olivia Newton-John – arguably our most beloved global star – passed away after 30 years of living with breast cancer.

Diagnosed in 1992, Olivia died at the age of 73 at her spectacular range in Southern California, with husband John Easterling and daughter Chloe Lattanzi by her side.

After 20 years in remission, the cancer struck again – returning in 2013 and discovered 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 actress and songstress admitted she thought it was sciatica and would “grit my teeth, take a few aspirin and go on”. “I was surprised [the cancer had returned],” she said. “In my mind, it was over. I had finished with it.”