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From one Australian legend to another, Kylie Minogue has paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John.
Olivia, 73, died peacefully at her home in Southern California on Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends, according to her husband John Easterling.
In a sweet Instagram tribute, the former Neighbours star, 54, shared a throwback photo of the pair in 1988, taken one year after the release of Kylie’s smash hit ‘Loco-Motion’.
In a sweet Instagram tribute, the former Neighbours star, 54, shared a throwback photo of the pair in 1988. ‘I have loved and looked up to Olivia Newton-John. And, I always will,’ Kylie wrote
The photo was a black and white image of Kylie and Olivia side by side at the Royal Bicentennial Concert.
Kylie appears to be starstruck by the Grease star, as she looks on at her idol.
‘Since I was ten years old, I have loved and looked up to Olivia Newton-John. And, I always will,’ Kylie wrote in her caption.
‘She was, and always will be, an inspiration to me in so many, many ways. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. x ONJ4EVER.’
‘That’s who I wanted to be,’ Kylie said of Olivia in a past interview
The ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ singer has looked up to Olivia throughout her career. In a 2018 appearance on BBC’s Reel Stories, Kylie reflects on the first time she met Olivia and how much of an inspiration she was to her growing up.
‘That’s who I wanted to be,’ she said, pointing at Olivia while watching an archival interview of the pair.
‘And then I got to kind of follow in her footsteps, in real life, which is amazing!’
In the archival video, the two stage and screen icons appear during an interview while Olivia praises Kylie on her rise to stardom.
‘It seems like she knows what she’s doing and she’s got her feet on the ground,’ Olivia says.
In 2018, Kylie shared sweet tribute to fellow Australian icon Olivia (L) on the Grease star’s 70th birthday
‘She’s got a fantastic start – she’s got acting and singing so it’s very fortunate that she’s good in both areas. She can continue in either area she wants to.’
‘Just keep it up love, you’ll be right!’ Olivia adds in a classic Aussie accent, while Kylie replies with a laugh, ‘Yeah, you beauty mate.’
Later in 2018, Kylie shared another photo of the pair together at the Royal Bicentennial Concert, but her caption was in honour of Olivia’s 70th birthday.
‘Happiest of birthdays to the one and only ONJ,’ she captioned a throwback photo.
Olivia Newton-John, left, in one of her last public appearances in 2019. The actress died on Monday aged 73. She is shown, right, in her most iconic role in Grease in 1978
The women have also both suffered battles with cancer – Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer while on tour in 2005, while Olivia was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992.
After recovering from her diagnosis and undergoing a partial mastectomy and reconstruction, Olivia was diagnosed again with breast cancer in 2013 but chose to keep it private.
In 2017, a tumour was found at the base of the Xanadu singer’s spine.
Olivia’s husband broke the news of the star’s death in a heartbreak Facebook post on Monday morning, following her brave and extraordinarily public decades-long health battle.
Olivia’s death was announced by her husband John Easterling on Monday on her social media pages, saying she died surrounded by family and friends
Just days before her death, Olivia Newton-John posted a heartwarming photo to Instagram alongside her husband John Easterling
‘Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends,’ Mr Easterling wrote.
‘We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.
‘Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.
‘Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.’
Flowers were laid on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as fans celebrated the life of the much-loved actress and singer.
A huge floral wreath decorated the star on Monday
Among the first to pay tribute to her on Monday was John Travolta, her co-star in Grease – the 1978 movie that catapulted her career and made her a global icon.
‘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,’ he wrote in an Instagram post.
‘Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!’
John Travolta was among the first to pay tribute to Newton-John on Instagram. Their joint performance catapulted both of their careers in 1978
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in the iconic 1978 movie Grease that catapulted her career. He was among the first to pay tribute to her on Monday
Newton-John famously resisted the part of Sandy in the 1978 movie Grease. She was 28 at the time and thought she was too old to play a fresh-faced high school student
Other tributes included Australian singer Delta Goodrem, who honoured her beloved ‘mentor and friend’.
Delta, 37, shared pictures of herself hugging Olivia and said she was ‘like family’ to her.
‘I love you forever,’ Delta wrote in her moving post. ‘The whole world will feel this heartbreak today because the entire world felt Olivia’s unmatched light. A force for good. A force of nature. Strong and kind.’
Heartbroken Delta Goodrem has paid tribute to her beloved ‘mentor and friend’ Olivia Newton-John after the Grease star’s death at the age of 73 following a lengthy cancer battle
‘My mentor, my friend, my inspiration, someone who always guided me… she was always there for me. Family to me.’
She added: ‘I don’t have all the words I would like to say today but I hope everyone will join in celebrating our beloved Olivia, her heart, soul, talent, courage, grace… I love you forever ❤️.’
The ‘Lost Without You’ songstress famously played the Aussie icon in the 2018 TV miniseries, Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You.
Olivia is survived by her 36-year-old daughter Chloe Lattanzi – who posted a loving tribute to her mother on Instagram three days ago, saying: ‘I worship this woman. My mother. My best friend.’
Lattanzi shared this touching image on Instagram on Monday along with other photos from her childhood. She did not post a caption, but was inundated with support and messages of sympathy from followers
Olivia Newton-John with her daughter Chloe Lattanzi, left, and right, when Chloe was a child. She suffered several miscarriages before giving birth to Chloe in 1986
Newton-John in 2018 at the Wellness Walk and Research Run in Melbourne. She dedicated the final years of her life to the charity work