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Backstage Country

Dolly Parton and Keith Urban Were Part Of Olivia Newton-John Memorial

During the state memorial for Olivia Newton-John in Australia on Sunday (2/26), Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, and Nicole Kidman joined many of her famous friends in sending a special video…

Dolly Parton and Keith Urban Were Part Of Olivia Newton-John Memorial
Jason Kempin x2, Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

During the state memorial for Olivia Newton-John in Australia on Sunday (2/26), Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, and Nicole Kidman joined many of her famous friends in sending a special video message. Others who sent messages included Mariah Carey, Elton John, Pink, and Hugh Jackman.

Dolly said in her message, "I know it's especially painful for all the folks in Australia. She's one of your own. And as a country, you should be very proud and know that the whole world mourns with you. I had the honor of singing with her several times, and I considered her a great friend, as well as a fellow entertainer." She added, "And Olivia, to quote one of your songs, 'I Honestly Love You.' Thank you for shining your light on us."

Keith recalled first meeting Olivia in the late 1990s at a songwriting retreat. He said in part, "The first thing that struck me about her was, she was exactly as I imagined she'd be as a person. No pretenses, no facade, just the real deal. Warm, friendly, kind, interested. Just a light, a real light."

Newton-John also introduced Urban onstage at the event, where he met his wife, Nicole Kidman. He said, "And there she was, part of our very, very beginning. So for that and many more reasons, she's always gonna play a very, very special role in our life. But the really, really extraordinary thing about Olivia is the legacy she's left, not only in music, not only in film, but her humanitarian legacy is extraordinary. And that's the kind of thing that will go on for generations and help millions and millions of people."

Kidman also spoke during the video tribute, saying in part, "I grew up with her, listening to her. I would perform her songs at school. I remember when I first saw Grease, I was like, 'I wanna be Olivia Newton-John!' So to be able to pay tribute to her tonight is incredibly important to us."

The memorial also featured Olivia's husband, John Easterling, and her daughter Chloe Lattanzi, who both spoke.

Before she died, Olivia was working on a duets album, and she and Dolly Parton recorded a duet version of Parton's classic "Jolene." Newton-John's YouTube channel released a video for the recording, which can be viewed below. The late singer's website notes this was the last song and video she ever recorded.

Olivia Newton-John became an international superstar in the 1978 movie Grease, where she played Sandy and sang a number of classics, including "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Summer Nights," and "You're the One That I Want." But before that, she was a country music star. She won two Grammy Awards in country music categories, Female Vocalist for the CMA in 1976 and New Female Vocalist for the ACMs the same year.

As the world mourns her death this week, we look at ten of her most significant and best country hits.

10. "Jolene" (1976)

Blank-1556-x-1176-90.jpgKeystone, Hutton Archives/Getty Images

9. "Come On Over" (1976)

Come_On_Over_-_Olivia_Newton-John.jpgMCA Records

8. "Let Me Be There" (1973)

Let_Me_Be_There_-_Olivia_Newton-John.jpgMCA Records

7. "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" (1974)

If_You_Love_Me_Let_Me_Know.jpgMCA Records

1974 - If you love me


6. "Have You Never Been Mellow" (1975)

HAVE_YOU_NEVER_BEEN_MELLOW.jpgMCA Records

5. "Sam" (1977)

Sam_-_Olivia_Newton-John.jpgMCA Records

4. "Let It Shine" (1975)

Clearlyl.jpgMCA Records

3. "Don't Stop Believin'" (1976)

Dont_Stop_Believin_-_Olivia_Newton-John.jpgMCA Records

2. "Please Mr. Please" (1975)

PleaseMr_Please.jpgMCA Records

1. "I Honestly Love You" (1974)

If_You_Love_Me_Let_Me_Know.pngMCA Records
Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.