Newton-John has her residency at Flamingo Las Vegas with her critically-acclaimed show “Summer Nights.” “It has been really good and a lot of fun. I’m on my third year, and I’ve have such a good time,” she said.
This week, she completed a four-day tour. “I did two tours this year. One in South America and one in Asia, and I’ve been in Las Vegas since then,” she said.
In 1992, Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her triumph against cancer has led to a partnership with Austin Health, as well as the creation of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre (ONJCWC) in Melbourne. A portion of every ticket sold for her Flamingo shows benefits her charitable organization. “It was a work of passion for me. I was asked if I would put my name to a cancer center in Melbourne, Australia, which is my hometown, and I agreed if they would include a wellness center as part of the hospital, where on the grounds of the hospital, one could go and have treatment, music therapy, yoga, acupuncture, group therapies, and all the things that would support the family. They did that, and it has been a huge success, and a big part of my life,” she said. “A part of every ticket of my show in Vegas goes towards the wellness programs, and all my meet and greet money goes towards the wellness programs.”
Her forthcoming studio album, Liv On, will be available on September 30. The iconic songstress collaborates with fellow musicians Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky. “This CD is a work of love too. It’s with my two dear friends, Amy Sky and Beth Nielsen Chapman, both of which are incredible musicians in their own right,” she said. “I had lost my sister and I invited them to join me as a trio, so that we could write this album to help people through grief and to live on. That was a motivation, and it turned out to be a beautiful and healing album,” she said. “Music has a way of healing and connecting people and it was a really powerful experience. I am very excited about this record for the future to help people.”
She shared that she has an award-winning spa, Gaia Retreat and Spa, in Australia. “I love it, and it’s very important to me,” she said. “When I go to Australia, that’s my healing place. It’s really beautiful.”
This past April, she played a show at The Paramount in Huntington on Long Island, which garnered a glowing review from Digital Journal. “That was good fun,” she said. “I introduced that show as a journey through my music.”
Throughout her illustrious career in the entertainment industry, she has sold over 100 million albums, and won four Grammy awards, an Emmy, along with awards from the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM), among others. She has secured 10 No. 1 hit singles, as well as over 15 Top 10 singles on the Billboard charts.
In 1978, she rose to super-stardom thanks to her co-starring role with John Travolta in Grease, which is the most successful movie musical of all time. A year later, in 1979, she was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. “I was very fortunate with my songwriters and I was lucky to be in two films that were really successful. The music and the movies have become classics. I feel very blessed to have both of these in my lifetime. I’m very grateful,” she said.
She revealed that one of her proudest professional moments involved singing “Dare to Dream” at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney with Australian singing sensation John Farnham, whom she dubbed as “one of her favorite singers in the world.” “Singing at the Olympics for my country was huge, and that will always stand out for me,” she said.
When asked what motivates her each day, she said with a sweet laugh, “I’m just grateful to be alive every day.” “I love my animals, my home, my husband and my daughter. I am just grateful for every day,” she said. “I love nature and seeing birds, trees and everything. I’m just very lucky and I’m motivated to help other people, and to do all the other things that I’m doing, as well as my music.”
Newton-John defined success as “A lot of hard work, devotion to what you are doing, and being professional.” “Success is a strong work ethic and gratitude,” she concluded.
For more information on global music star Olivia Newton-John, her music and show dates, check out her official website.
