Mariah Carey, Elton John and Dolly Parton share moving tributes to Olivia Newton-John

A cavalcade of the world’s biggest stars paid tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John during the late icon’s state memorial on Sunday. 

In a series of video tributes aired via vide at Hamer Hall in Melbourne, the likes of Mariah Carey, Elton John, Pink and Dolly Parton shared their memories of the singer, who lost her battle with cancer in August. 

American country superstar Dolly Parton, 77, opened the tributes with joyful recollections of the star. 

‘The world lost one of its greatest talents when Olivia left us’ she said.  

‘I know it’s especially painful for all the folks there in Australia since she is one of your own. As a country you should be very proud and know that the whole world mourns with you’ Dolly continued. 

‘Now, I had the honour of singing with her several times. I consider her a great friend as well as a fellow entertainer. Olivia to quote one of your songs, I honestly love you. And thank you for shining your light on us.’

American pop superstar Mariah Carey, 53, called herself ‘a friend and fan’ of the late singer. 

‘I just want to give thanks for a moment here. She really affected my life. As a little girl I loved her so much growing up, Grease was probably the first movie I ever saw,’ Mariah said. 

‘And then I got to meet her later when she came and we performed together. I looked up to her so much and I loved her songs. When I got to meet her she was just as nice as she was a star, and talented, and I know she went through so much. 

‘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.’

English musician Elton John, 75, described Olivia, as ‘someone who I always looked forward to seeing.’

‘She was such a wonderful force of nature but she was funny, she was kind, she was warm and she was talented and every time we got together we laughed and laughed and laughed’ he said. 

‘Throughout her career I watched her grow and grow and grow to be the artist she became. I was able to participate in television shows and go to the Grease party in New York City at Studio 54, which was a hoot and we always had the best time.’

He went on: ‘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. 

‘She was never down, she was always optimistic, she was fun, she was beautiful, she was kind. Those kind of people don’t come along very often, so we should treasure her memory and never forget what she gave the world.’

Australian actress Nicole Kidman, 55, recalled seeing Grease as a child and being inspired.

‘She was just a light in this world, which I think all of us feel and I grew up with her, listening to her’ Nicole said. 

‘I would perform her songs at school when I first saw ‘Grease’ I was like “I want to be Olivia Newton-John.” So to be able to pay tribute to her tonight is incredibly important to all of us. We all send you our love, Livvie.’

Nicole’s husband, country singer Keith Urban, 55, described how Olivia was a ‘real light.’

‘I first met Livvie in the late 90s at a song writing retreat. The first thing that struck me about her was she was exactly as I imagined she would be as a person. No pretenses, no façade just the real deal, warm, friendly, kind, interested. Just a light’ Keith said.

‘Of course then she played a really big role in the night that my wife and I met. Nic and I met at an event in Los Angeles. Olivia was introducing me that night on stage. There she was part of our very, very beginning. For that and many more reasons she is always going to play a very, very special role in our life and place in our heart.’

He continued: ‘But the really extraordinary thing about Olivia is the legacy that she’s left, not only in music and film but her humanitarian legacy is extraordinary. 

‘That’s the kind of thing that will go on for generations and help millions and millions of people. For that and so many other reasons I love you Livvie, we love you, we miss you, from all of us thank you so much.’

British singer Cliff Richard, 82, discussed the close friendship that the pair shared during Olivia’s lifetime.    

‘We kept in touch over the years a lot. In fact just about three or four weeks before she passed on I called her and of course every time I ever phoned her she would say “G’day cliff, how are you darling”‘ Cliff recalled. 

‘People would say, “How is she?” We knew she was battling with cancer. I said, “I don’t know, she sounds the same good old gorgeous Olivia.” I thought of course having fought the cancer for 30 odd years she would be around for another 30, still battling and still strong’ he continued. 

‘I’m afraid it was a terrible loss not just for me but for all of us.’

Cliff also spoke fondly of Olivia’s very close bond with her homeland of Australia. 

‘I have to say her heart was always in Australia, always’ the pop singer explained. 

‘She went there regularly, and if I may, tonight, I’d like to rip my heart out and leave it with all of you and just say “Olivia, you have done so much for us, just being the human being that you are.” I’d like to say, “God bless you, may you rest in the peace you so absolutely deserve. It was good to know you.”‘ 

American pop star Pink, 43, called Olivia ‘an absolute angel’ and remembered meeting her on a handful of occasions. 

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‘She was one of the kindest most present just light-filled beings walking around this earth’ Pink said. 

‘She always had a smile on her face to give you, and her career was incredible, but she will be very missed and my heart is with her family. I know this is an awful time and I hope that they find some comfort in just how universally loved she was’.

Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb, 76, recalled meeting Olivia for the first time in the 1960s and described her as ‘a vision’ and ‘a beautiful lady.’

‘Making music with her was almost always the greatest pleasure, and I have to salute her courage, I have to salute her  deliberate intention to keep going, to keep going no matter what, and she was a wonderful person because you never really knew, you never saw the problem within her’ he said. 

‘What you saw was her vitality, her courage and you know I loved her then and I love her now. She was a vision and she is still a vision. God would like to hear her sing, I know that.’ 

Australian actor Hugh Jackman, 54, admitted that as a young man in fifth grade, he was ‘obsessed’ with Grease and ‘had a poster of Olivia Newton-John on my wall which I would kiss every single night.’

While working on a movie with John Travolta, Hugh shared the story of the poster, and John surprised him y introducing him to Olivia.  

‘I went into his trailer which is like the Four Seasons by the way that trailer. I walked in and sitting there at the table was Olivia Newton-John. And I literally froze and he said “come and sit down.” I just stood there frozen, I was looking at a table with Danny and Sandy. 

‘I started gushing, I can’t remember all the things I said to Olivia, I told her about the poster kissing it every night, I could see her eyes glazed over and she said to John “get this butter ball out of here.” It was a big moment for me’. 

Drag superstar Ru Paul, 62, called Olivia, ‘a great woman’ who possessed, ‘the talent, the beauty, the smile, and that sweet, kind heart.

‘So many great memories of Olivia. The impression she left on this world, and is still felt around the world is just amazing’ she said. 

‘What a beautiful soul, songwriter, mother, actress, singer, that voice. I will miss her, but she has left a legacy that goes on forever, forever and ever.

‘So much fun just a great, great energy around her. That energy will live forever and ever. The music, the laughter and the joy she brought.’

Ru recalled: ‘You know, when I found out that she had moved on I was on a plane going to London, and I had to watch Grease. Watch it on the plane. At the end where she waves goodbye I just lost it, I just lost it. 

‘I’m sure everyone around me must have thought something terrible had happened. You know what it was actually a beautiful thing. It was a beautiful thing. She left behind a beautiful thing. She left behind a beautiful thing. I love you Olivia, my friend’ she concluded. 

American singer Richard Marx, 59,recalled how Olivia supported him as a young songwriter.

‘We met in 1984 and just clicked, we immediately hit it off and started spending time together. She was wanting to get into writing songs I was a young and up and coming songwriter we did a little writing together, we just became pals and stayed friends forever’ Richard said. 

‘She was just the best. I’ll never ever forget her.’

Australian pop singer Tina Arena, 55, called Olivia, one of ‘Australia’s greatest’ legends.  

 ‘She was a woman who I was very, very lucky to know on a personal level for a very long time, a woman who made an extraordinary contribution, not only to art, humanity but also her contribution to the research of cancer in Australia’ she said. 

‘Today we say goodbye to you Olivia. Thank you so much for the music, for the love, for the education in how to be an exquisite exquisite woman. 

‘We love you, we will forever remember you and here is to your family and loved ones that you leave behind. 

‘But here is to the memory of this extraordinary human being, we love you so much darling, may you rest in peace and be dancing up there in heaven’.

The service comes six months after Newton-John died in August at the age of 73, after a brave and decades-long battle with cancer. 

Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and began fundraising for research and promoting cancer awareness. 

Her career spanned more than 60 years, during which she made 28 studio and six live albums. 

She is survived by her husband John Easterling and only daughter Chloe Lattanzi.