Olivia Newton-John's heart-breaking final photo, family to be offered state funeral in Australia

Dame Olivia Newton-John shared one final picture with her husband John Easterling just days before her death.

The legendary Grease actress - who tied the knot with producer and businessman John, 70, back in 2008 - passed away this week after battling breast cancer for 30 years but took to Facebook just five days earlier to share a throwback photo of herself and her husband in what ultimately became her final social media post.

She captioned the photograph: "#FlashbackFriday [heart emoji]"

The Physical hitmaker was initially married to soap star Matt Lattanzi - who she met on the set of 1980 fantasy musical Xanadu - between 1984 and 1995 and had daughter Chloe, 36, with him but eventually wed Amazon Herb Company owner in 2008 and remained married to him until her death.

Back in 2021, Olivia - who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and spent more than 20 years in remission before it returned in 2013 and eventually spread to her lower back four years later -  admitted she was "lucky" to have married a man who specialises in plant medicine and was being "helped in every area" by his cannabis.

She told PEOPLE: "I'm very lucky to be married to a wonderful man who is a plant medicine man, and he has great knowledge. Now he's growing medicinal cannabis for me, and it just has been wonderful. It helps me in every area."

Meanwhile, Olivia Newton-John's family is to be offered a state funeral for the late star.

 

The Grease actress was born in England, but her family emigrated to Australia when she was six years old and now Daniel Andrews, the Premier of Victoria, is planning to contact her family to propose a memorial in the Australian state.

He said: "As for celebrating her life ... her music and film and all the other amazing contributions that she made, we would, of course, want to speak to the family and be as respectful as we can."

In Victoria, Olivia, who had battled breast cancer for 30 years, already has a building named after her, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, and Daniel admitted it is a "lasting legacy".

He added: "She took her cancer journey and used that to save lives and change lives, and that’s just a deeply impressive thing.

"The research that’s done there [at the cancer and wellness centre], the treatment, the care, the love and support that is central to that place is a lasting legacy to the person that she was."

Olivia's husband of 14 years, John Easterling, shared a statement across the star's social media channels, confirming she had passed away.

 

It read: "Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. 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. In
lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation

"Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall.

"- via John Easterling, husband, Olivia Newton-John"

Following her death, John Travolta - who starred opposite Olivia in the 1978 musical megahit as starcrossed lovers Danny and Sandy - led the tributes to the tragic singer and remembered her as having had an "incredible" impact on the world.

He wrote: "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. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!"

- Bang! Showbiz

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you