If I quit now I'll be happy
As she prepares to serenade the world at , the Sydney Olympics, Australia’s darling, Olivia Newton-John, sets her sights on her daughter Chloe’s dream - and a life away from the spotlight when the phone rang at her Malibu home earlier this year, delivering the news that she had been desperately hoping to hear — that she would sing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
It’s a dream come true for the proud 52-year-old mum, who has been tight-lipped about her triumphant homecoming until it was announced to the world last week. And now, at home in Melbourne, preparing for her big day, Olivia is more radiant than ever. However, the stellar performer has exclusively revealed to New Idea that she’s considering giving up her successful career after her Olympics performance with fellow singer John Farnham.
“This has been an amazing year for me and I’m at the age where I’m considering slowing down and retiring. But the funny thing is, the moment I have those thoughts, all of these wonderful things happen for me. I sang for the Pope and President Bill Clinton… and now the Olympics. I’ve had some incredible experiences and met some truly wonderful people. This is the penultimate for me, probably for my whole career.”
“If I decided to quit now, it would be fine. I’ve done it all and I’d be really comfortable with my decision. To sing with John Farnham at the Olympics is the most wonderful experience I can have. He’s my favourite singer in the world and it would be a perfect ending for me.”
Their duet, Dare To Dream, at the opening ceremony, will cap off an extraordinary year in Olivia’s life and she says she’s already nervous about the big day, September 15. “It’s by far the biggest thing I’ve ever done. Someone said to me the other day: Do you know a billion people are going to be watching this?” and I just said: Don’t even say that, it’s incomprehensibIe.”
“Singing for your country is the biggest honour you can have, it’s mind-boggling. I get chills just thinking about it. I am nervous — excited and nervous — because I want everything to be perfect, I want to sing great and I want to look great, it’s all of those things combined. But I’m so thrilled to be singing with John, he’s a great man. He’ll make it fun and calm my nerves, but I think we’ll both be nervous. It’s nice to be singing with someone else. It’s not quite so daunting when you’re with someone.”
John isn’t the only partnership that Olivia has formed this year. She has joined forces with her talented daughter Chloe to make a telemovie. The pretty 14 year-old is keen to embark on a career in showbiz and is proudly hoping to follow in her famous mum’s footsteps. “I’m really excited for her, I’m giving her all of the encouragement I can, because I believe you should follow your dreams. Chloe’s had this desire to sing and act for a couple of years now and she’s a very talented girl. If she wasn’t talented, I wouldn’t encourage her, but she’s a natural actor. She’s also writing songs and she’s got a really sweet voice.”
“We’re going to be doing a project together, a TV movie, it’s very exciting for both of us.”
Olivia’s appearance in the Sydney Games will not be the first time she has performed at an Olympic ceremony. As a young girl, she sang in front of the Queen at the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956. “I remember wearing a little white dress that my mum had made, and I sang with a choir. I was only recently reminiscing about singing at the Olympics as a little girl and now I’m going to do it again — as a grown-up! I am flattered. To sing for your country in front of all of those people is amazing. I’m extremely proud, as proud as I am of my country. Australia has always been my home.”
No doubt, daughter Chloe will be proudly cheering on her mum from the stands. “I don’t think Chloe will quite understand what it all means until she’s there. She’s only 14, so there’s only been a couple of Olympics in her lifetime and the last time, she was only 1O. But she’s really happy and excited for me and I’m sure she’ll be incredibly proud when I sing, but at the end of the day, I’m just Mum!’ she laughs.
“I’m just a mum, no matter where I am or what I do, my role first and foremost is as Mum. It’s like: Where’s the toilet paper? Where’s the toothpaste? All of that,” she laughs.
With rehearsals now under way and the big day drawing close, Olivia will use the inspiration of the athletes to motivate her for her song. “The Olympics are all about beating the odds and rising above challenges — trying your hardest. I mean, what about that wonderful man Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France? He was seriously ill with cancer, yet he triumphed over it.”
“It’s wonderful to see people whose spirit rises above their physical problems. That’s really important to me personally, to encourage people. All of these people have worked for such a long time to achieve their dreams and I hope we can inspire them to achieve their goals.”
By Sue Smethurst