Olivia Newton-John releases final song a ‘gorgeous duet’ with Dolly Parton of US singer’s iconic hit Joelene
Olivia Newton-John’s final recording has been posthumously released on her behalf, a ‘gorgeous’ duet with Dolly Parton as the star’s final words were revealed. Listen here.
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Olivia Newton-John’s final recording has been posthumously released on her behalf, a ‘gorgeous’ duet with Dolly Parton of the US singer’s iconic hit ‘Joelene’.
The song was released on Newton-John’s YouTube channel early Saturday.
The two music legends teamed up to record the song shortly before Dame Newton-John died of breast cancer last year. It was the last song the Grease actress recorded before her death at age 73.
“My last memory of Olivia was when I sang with her on my song ‘Jolene’ which she recorded for an album not so very long ago,” Parton told Hello magazine in August.
“I cannot wait to hear that album and Olivia may you rest in peace. You left a spot that one else will ever fill.”
Shortly after Newton-John passed away Parton posted of the pair’s close relationship on social media.
Parton said the Australian entertainer was a “special friend” and that “her voice is singing beautifully with the angels.”
Newton-John covered Joelene on her 1976 album Come On Over.
Newton-John’s husband, John Easterling said his late partner’s legacy would live on via the song.
“It’s a gorgeous duet,” Easterling told the Today Show in the US.
“Dolly’s a wonderful person, was a good friend of Olivia.”
“I think it expresses part of who she was.
“She, as I do, (felt) like everyone has a very unique and special gift. I mean, for her it was her voice. She knew that. That was a gift.
“She understood it was a gift, and she gave that very generously.”
Easterling said he still speaks to his late wife’s ghost.
“Late at night, early in the morning, I’ll just be walking around the house, or throwing the ball for the dogs and just speak to her out loud,” he said.
In the same segment, Newton-John’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi shared her mother’s final words.
“The last words she could say to me was, ‘My sunshine’,” Lattanzi said.
“And right before she lost her ability to speak, she was making jokes.”
Earlier this month, in an exclusive interview with News Corp, Easterling explained the iconic Australian singer and actress was focused right to the very end on her charity work, helping cancer patients enjoy a better quality of life.
He also released a series of his favourite photos of the couple — never-before-seen images which give him strength and the will to carry on almost seven months on from her own cancer death at age 73.
“She was very clear and very alive and very conscious and not in pain. So there was a quality of life there as that time that I think is so critical,” Mr Easterling said.
“That was part of Olivia’s great contribution with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center … providing a real quality of life for people was close to heart. That’s a lot of the focus there and was with Olivia too through her entire journey.”
Mr Easterling’s comments came as details of the Grease star’s state memorial in Melbourne were released.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a 90 minute “celebration of life” would be held on Sunday, February 26 starting at 4pm in Hamer Hall.
Speakers will represent her family, her services to entertainment and to cancer research and wellness, with video messages from local and international celebrities.
Delta Goodrem, who played Newton-John in the biopic of her life, will perform a six minute medley of Newton-John’s biggest hits.
The service will be free but ticketed in line with the capacity of Hamer Hall. Members of the public must register to attend with ticket registrations opening at 12pm on Friday February 10 2023. Registrations close by 4pm February 22.
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