Mariah Careypaid homage toOlivia Newton-Johnwith a touching social media post following the legendary icon’sdeath on Monday.
OnTwitter, the 53-year-old singer acknowledged how much she looked up to Newton-John while growing up, before sharing that she was “obsessed” with theGreaseactress.
“I first fell in love with Olivia’s voice when I was a little girl and heard ‘I Honestly Love You.’ Songs like ‘Magic,’ ‘Suddenly’ and ‘Have You Never Been Mellow’ showcased her beautiful airy tone and signature sound. And THEN there was GREASE. I was obsessed,“Carey tweeted Tuesday.
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
Carey went on to share that she even dressed up as the icon before she found stardom herself.
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“I dressed up as Bad Sandy for Halloween in 5th grade and thought I was everything. Years later, THE Olivia Newton-John walked out onto my stage in Melbourne, Australia and we sang our hearts out together to “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” This is a moment I will never ever forget,” Carey wrote.
The “We Belong Together” singer concluded, “I was also blessed to be in her presence on many other occasions and she was one of the kindest, most generous and lovely people I’ve ever met. She will be missed. She will be remembered. She will be loved. Olivia, honestly I love you.”
The singer-songwriter and actress — a four-time Grammy winner and star of beloved movie musicalGrease— died of breast cancer Monday morning at the age of 73.
Mariah Carey and Olivia Newton-John.Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty
“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. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the@onjfoundation.”
In May 2017, Newton-John announced thatshe was diagnosed with breast cancerwhich had metastasized to the sacrum. Her team said that Newton-John would be completing photon radiation therapy, in addition to natural wellness therapies after consulting with her medical team at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia.
“We both have the same unshakable belief that she’s going to have a wonderful success story,” her husband,John Easterling, 70,told PEOPLE at the time. “We’re nottryingto be positive. We have an absolute knowingness that we can turn this around.”
Olivia Newton-John.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Newton-John was known to refer to herself as a “cancer thriver,” acknowledging that she led a full life despite her diagnosis, ultimately living another five years.
source: people.com
