Olivia Newton-John’s husband John Easterling has paid tribute to his late wife at a star-studded memorial service.
Easterling, 70, and Newton-John and married after the performer proposed to the businessman he revealed, an anecdote that drew laughter from the audience at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.
”We ended up in Scottsdale on Valentine’s Day and I started a charade at dinner and the secret phrase was, ‘Will you marry me,'” Easterling said.
“And she got ‘will’ and she got ‘you’ and I said ‘rhymes with hairy’.
“Then out of nowhere, she just said, ‘Will you marry me?’
“She looked stunned for a minute and then started laughing and said, ‘You rat bag.’
“That is the story of how Olivia proposed to me.”
Attendees are wearing a touch of orange as it was the singer’s favourite colour.
Singer Dannii Minogue and Patti Newton, the wife of the late TV star Bert Newton are among the big names who arrived earlier on the special orange carpet.
Friends including a former flatmate as well as politicians are present.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also there.
People involved with her cancer research charity are also remembering her.
Ahead of the service at Hamer Hall, Goodrem paid tribute to the Grease star.
“We all love her so much so it’s wonderful to see everybody out,” she said.
“She was really a light for all of the industry.”
Nine’s entertainment editor Richard Wilkins said Newton-John left Melbourne and took on the world with “all of that beautiful talent that she had”.
“I think it’s important that she’s remembered and recognised for what she did because she was a trailblazer,” Wilkins said.
“The most courageous”: Stars gather at Olivia Newton John memorial
“(She) never stood on anyone on the way through.
“She was always helping other people (and) she was always keen to support others.”
Actress Magda Szubanski spoke about the legacy she has left behind.
“She was the most extraordinary, humble person given what she achieved,” Szubanski said.
“All of the stories that you hear about her legendary generosity… she’s just a really fabulous Australian.
“It’s important to honour and acknowledge that.”
Singer Dannii Minogue said Newton-John had a profound impact on the course of her life.
“To me, she is literally the reason why I started performing,” Minogue said.
“I was lucky enough to tell her that the first time we met”.
Ahead of the service, the late singer’s family released a photo tribute featuring images from Newton-John’s personal collection.
After surviving cancer in 1992 and again in 2013, it returned in 2017 and on August 9, 2022, the Grammy-award winner lost her battle with spinal cancer.
“A lot of people are getting together for the first time since Olivia left us all,” Wilkins said.
Across six decades, Newton-John released 28 studio albums, won four Grammy awards, and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
