Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge shared her memories of the late Olivia Newton-John, calling her a "beautiful, delightful, loving, talented person" on the AMA red carpet.
As the music industry gathered for the American Music Awards (AMAs), singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge paid a touching tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John, describing her as a "beautiful, delightful, loving, talented person."
While speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital on the red carpet, Etheridge fondly recalled Newton-John's enduring spirit and unwavering optimism. "She was a force of nature," said Etheridge, her voice filled with emotion. "She was such a kind and generous soul, and her music brought joy to so many people."
Olivia Newton-John Remembered as a 'Beautiful, Delightful, Loving, Talented Person' by Melissa Etheridge
Newton-John's nephew, Emerson Newton-John, also shared some previously unseen clips of his late aunt from a never-before-aired pilot for the series "Celebrity Car Crush." In one clip, Emerson surprises Newton-John with a vintage VW Bug, which she excitedly drives, despite her declining health due to cancer.
"Even in rapidly declining health, and not bearing the strength that she once had, I could see flashes of the young Olivia popping in and out during filming," Emerson told E! News. "That alone made all of the time and investment in creating our show 'Celebrity Car Crush' worth it, regardless of whether or not we would eventually watch it on television. There was no acting here; there was just pure surprise, joy, and strong feelings of only positive nostalgia."
Olivia Newton-John Remembered as a 'Beautiful, Delightful, Loving, Talented Person' by Melissa Etheridge
Emerson noted that the VW Bug was the first car Newton-John had purchased in America, and her ability to drive it again was a testament to her resilience. "Due to her lack of physical strength at that time, and also because she had not driven a manual car in decades, we were making bets on whether or not she could get the car going without stalling it," he recalled. "Well, not only did she not stall it, but she got away impressively smoothly and never made a mistake the entire time that she drove the car!"
Emerson praised Newton-John's humble lifestyle, despite her immense wealth. "One thing I always found so cool about my aunt was that regardless of her obvious wealth, she was not one to show off her success with material gains. Instead, she intentionally understated so many material aspects of her life. No private jets, no yachts, no ridiculous cars that screamed 'look at me.'"
Olivia Newton-John Remembered as a 'Beautiful, Delightful, Loving, Talented Person' by Melissa Etheridge
Newton-John passed away in 2022 at the age of 73 after a long battle with breast cancer. Her family released a statement at the time, saying, "Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer."
As the AMAs honored the late music icon, Melissa Etheridge and Emerson Newton-John's heartfelt tributes served as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of Olivia Newton-John, a woman who touched the lives of countless people with her music, spirit, and unwavering courage.
