- Suzanne Somers has described how Olivia Newton-John taught her not to be afraid after being diagnosed with cancer in a powerful interview given just over a year before her death aged 76.
- The Grease star tragically lost her battle with the disease last year, while Somers died after a long battle with breast cancer just one day before her 77th birthday
- “Olivia taught me not to be afraid when I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” she previously told DailyMail.com
Suzanne Somers has described how Olivia Newton-John taught her not to be afraid after being diagnosed with cancer in a powerful interview given just over a year before her death aged 76.
Both Suzanne and Newton-John faced mega-fame and were breast cancer fighters, over which they bonded.
The Grease star tragically lost her battle with the disease last year, while Somers died after a long battle with breast cancer just one day before her 77th birthday.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com following Olivia’s death last year, Somers described what it was like to have the Australian megastar as her friend.
“Everyone would want an Olivia Newton-John in their life,” Suzanne began, noting that she met Olivia at one of the singer’s birthday parties.
Suzanne Somers has described how Olivia Newton-John taught her not to be afraid after being diagnosed with cancer in a powerful interview given just over a year before her death aged 76.
Both Suzanne and Newton-John faced mega-fame and were breast cancer fighters, over which they bonded; photo 2019
“Olivia taught me not to be afraid when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992.
Suzanne was impressed with how down to earth the singer of Have You Ever Been Mellow was.
‘Olivia was exactly what you would expect. She was kind and sweet. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone,’ The Three’s Company star told DailyMail.com.
And she felt that Newton-John was like a ‘sister’ after they had a shared struggle.
‘There is a sisterhood that grows bigger every year. It’s a sisterhood you never want to join, but when allowed in, you find great comfort in other “sisters,” the Step By Step actress said.
‘Olivia was a great comfort to me when she was diagnosed 25 years ago. Her fight was my fight, as she won, I won.
‘She taught us all so much through her bravery and ‘never give up’ philosophy. We got strength from Olivia and her example of life.
Suzanne was impressed with how down to earth the singer of Have You Ever Been Mellow was
‘As a ’70s icon, she lived a full life. I loved her and will miss my “sister” forever.’
On Instagram, Suzanne wrote a loving tribute to Olivia: ‘There is a sisterhood that grows bigger every year. It’s a sisterhood you never want to join, but when allowed in, you find great comfort in other sisters.
“Olivia was a great comfort to me when she was diagnosed 25 years ago.”
And she added: ‘We got strength from Olivia and her example of life. As a ’70s icon, she lived a full life. I loved her and will miss my “sister” forever.’
Somers’ death was confirmed by her publicist R. Couri Hay on Sunday.
The Grease star tragically lost her battle with the disease last year, while Somers died after a long battle with breast cancer just one day before her 77th birthday
Somers’ death was confirmed by her publicist R. Couri Hay on Sunday
“Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early hours of October 15,” Hay said.
“She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years,” it further revealed.
‘Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce and her immediate family. Her family gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday.
“Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”
Hay added that a private family funeral should take place sometime this week, with a memorial for the acting icon planned for an unspecified day in November.