Olivia Newton-John’s daughter and widower have spoken out for the first time in an emotional interview, in which the late Grease actress’s child Chloe Lattanzi revealed the final touching words her mother spoke to her before her death.
The legendary actress, who catapulted to fame for her role as Sandy in 1978’s Grease, died in August last year aged 73 after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
Now, her grieving family members have spoken out about how they are coping with her loss, while sharing insight into her final moments before she died.
Her grieving widower, John Easterling, also shared how he still speaks to her ‘out loud’ six months after her death.
‘The last words she could say to me was, “My sunshine,”‘ Chloe, 37, told Today, adding her mother kept her sense of humor until she passed.
Olivia Newton-John’s daughter Chloe (left) and widower John Easterling have spoken for the first time since the actress’s death at the age of 73
Olivia Newton-John, left, in one of her last public appearances in 2019. She is shown, right, in her most iconic role in Grease in 1978
‘And right before she lost her ability to speak, she was making jokes.’
Chloe is Olivia’s daughter with her first husband, Matt Lattanzi, who she was married to between 1984 and 1995.
John, who wed Olivia in 2008, said he felt his late wife’s presence the most ‘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,’ the 70-year-old, who became visibly emotional at times, said.
He added: ‘Every day, I miss Olivia terribly. And yet every day I’m really super grateful that I had 15 wonderful years with this extraordinary human being.
‘A guy I was flying with said, “You know, John, when you’re lucky enough to have found your true soul mate, and you share a heart, when one passes, the other has the obligation to live life for both.” And that was very empowering and very powerful for me, and, you know, and gave a way forward.’
John said Olivia remained true to who she was ‘even in her most difficult of times.’
‘She had the willpower, even in her most difficult times, to really bring in the light and to bring in the love,’ he said.
‘And she was who she was all the way through.’
Her grieving widower, John Easterling, also shared how he still speaks to her ‘out loud’ six months after her death
Olivia and John Travolta in the iconic 1978 movie Grease that catapulted her career. He was among the first to pay tribute to her after her death
Just days before her death, Olivia posted a heartwarming photo to Instagram alongside her husband, John Easterling
Olivia’s husband John announced her death on her Facebook page
Olivia died in August last year after a brave and extraordinarily public decades-long battle with cancer.
The Australian actress died peacefully at her home in Southern California, surrounded by family and friends, with John announcing her death on her Facebook page.
‘Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer,’ John said at the time.
‘Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.’
Their new interview with Today marks the release of Olivia’s Jolene duet with her friend, Dolly Parton, which was released on Friday.
Chloe said the love and support from her mother’s fans had helped her through the grieving process.
‘It actually has been a life raft. It has felt like a big hug from the universe,’ she said.
‘And I’m very grateful for all of the people who reached out to us and extended their heart and their connection.’
Olivia became a household name after starring opposite John Travolta as Danny in Grease.
Chloe said the love and support from her mother’s fans had helped her through the grieving process
The 37-year-old is Olivia’s daughter with her first husband, Matt Lattanzi, who she was married to between 1984 and 1995
Grease co-star Travolta was among the first to pay tribute to Olivia after she died
Travolta was one of the first to pay tribute to her after her death, writing: ‘My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again.
‘Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!’
Olivia famously beat breast cancer twice, but was diagnosed again in 2017.
She spent the last few years at home, campaigning for animals’ rights and raising money for her charity online.
Days after her death, Olivia’s husband wrote a touching tribute to the actress on her Instagram page.
‘Our love for each other transcends our understanding. Every day we expressed our gratitude for this love that could be so deep, so real, so natural,’ he wrote.
‘We never had to “work” on it. We were in awe of this great mystery and accepted the experience of our love as past, present and forever.
‘At Olivia’s deepest essence she was a healer using her mediums of song, of words, of touch. She was the most courageous woman I’ve ever known.’
The couple were introduced to each other by a friend in the 1990s, but did not fall in love until 15 years later, according to People.