Remembering Olivia Newton-John

I’m remembering dear, wonderful Olivia Newton-John this morning as today marks four years since her passing.

As longtime readers of The Randy Report know, my husband Michael was Olivia’s publicist for more than 20 years.  We shared countless adventures and laughs with Olivia all over the world.

Michael penned this post on Instagram today and included tons of photos from their adventures.

View this post on Instagram

In addition to her glorious music and philanthropic efforts, Olivia was a longtime LGBTQ ally. She was the first major Australian celebrity to come out in support of same-sex marriage. I was with her in 2012 as she drafted her famous public statement saying, “Love is love.”

And in 2019, Olivia officiated Michael and I renewing our wedding vows as we celebrated our 25th anniversary together.

She was truly a part of our family.

Below is my  January 2021 interview with Olivia when she and her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, released their duet “Window In The Wall,” which reached #1 on the iTunes pop music video chart the week of its release and also topped the iTunes All Music Video chart.

I know the world was touched by Olivia’s music, but what I miss most today is the sound of her laugh.

I choose not to be sad today, but glad she happened to us all.

I love all the classics, of course, but the song that makes me feel closest to her spirit is “Grace and Gratitude.” I feel like it captures so much of her decades of artistry and expression. 

During my cancer journey in 2009, Olivia reached out to me just about every day until my treatment was done. The full Grace and Gratitude album was my musical companion every step of the way.

I remember telling her on more than one occasion after a concert how “G&G” had its own special vibration when she’d sing it. Listen to her gorgeous live performance of the song in the first video below.

I’ll be listening to the full Grace and Gratitude album today in celebration of her.

Fly high, Dame Olivia.