Olivia Newton-John Dispels Rumors That She’s Close to Death With Twitter Video Message
No, Olivia Newton-John is not dying -- and she's got the Twitter video to prove it. On Wednesday (Jan. 2), the actress and singer used her account on the social media site to dispel rumors that she's on her deathbed.
“Happy New Year, everyone! ... I just want to say that the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated, to quote a very famous quote," Newton-John says, quoting author Mark Twain, "and I’m doing great, and I want to wish all of you the happiest, healthiest 2019 that’s possible.”
Newton-John was diagnosed with a metastasized tumor in her sacrum in May of 2017; it was her third cancer diagnosis, following battles with the disease in 1992 and 2013. Rumors about her heath began just after Christmas, when Radar Online reported that the artist was "clinging to life" while "spending her final days" at her ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., with her husband, John Easterling, and preparing for her daughter Chloe's "secret wedding" to fiance James Driskill.
A news sites in New Zealand picked up the report; however, a rep told People that the rumors were "ridiculous" and "crap." Newton-John's niece, Tottie Goldsmith, posted on Instagram that her aunt "is in good health, so let’s leave that distressing rumor where it belongs;" Goldsmith added to Seven Network in Newton-John's native Australia, "You can rest assured she is going nowhere and in really good health."
People reports that August 2018 tabloid rumors that Newton-John had canceled speaking engagements due to her cancer were also false; Newton-John herself denied the rumor, explaining that she needed to cancel those appearances due to a promotional tour for a new book. In September, a source told the news outlet that Newton-John was still doing well.
Newton-John won the hearts of moviegoers in her role as Sandy in the 1975 hit musical Grease opposite John Travolta, but in the early ’70s, she earned accolades at the ACM Awards and CMA Awards; she also has two country Grammy Awards trophies to her name. Newton-John has recorded almost 30 albums throughout her career.
Following her first fight with cancer, Newton-John opened the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in 2012. She has been an advocate for cancer awareness since being diagnosed in the early '90s.
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