Olivia Newton-John’s Role In The Night Keith Urban Met Nicole Kidman
When Olivia Newton-John died on Monday (8/9), Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman issued a joint Instagram post with an image of the three of them together, saying in part, “Livvie…
When Olivia Newton-John died on Monday (8/9), Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman issued a joint Instagram post with an image of the three of them together, saying in part, "Livvie brought the most divine light into the world."
I interviewed Keith this week and asked how he knew Newton-John, and he shared an extraordinary connection that he, his wife, and Olivia had. He told us, "There was an event in Los Angeles called G'Day LA in 2005 where they were honoring me and Nic, who I hadn't met, and Mel Gibson, the three of us Australian who have done well in America and they asked if I wanted anybody, in particular to introduce me. I had just written with Olivia so I asked Olivia if she would do it for me, so she was the person who introduced me that night, that fateful night when I met my wife. So she holds that very special role in our past."
Urban added of the music icon, "Olivia is one of those people that for so many Australians, particularly, has just always been part of the fabric of life. She was there in the 70s and has kinda just been there for all of my life."
Keith said when he first met her, he was a bit starstruck, "I met her at a songwriting retreat, and I was a bit of a fanboy (laughs). I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm meeting Olivia Newton-John,' and it was surreal to meet her, and she couldn't have been more down-to-earth, kind, friendly, warm, funny... everything I thought she would be; she was exactly that. And then we got to write a little more over the years."
10 Of Olivia Newton-John’s Finest Country Songs, Ranked
Olivia Newton-John became an international superstar in the 1978 movie Grease, where she played Sandy and sang a number of classics, including "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Summer Nights," and "You're the One That I Want." But before that, she was a country music star. She won two Grammy Awards in country music categories, Female Vocalist for the CMA in 1976 and New Female Vocalist for the ACMs the same year.
As the world mourns her death this week, we look at ten of her most significant and best country hits.
10. "Jolene" (1976)
Keystone, Hutton Archives/Getty ImagesOlivia covered the Dolly Parton song three years after Dolly herself released it in 1973. The cover at the time got mixed reviews. Little known fact: Dolly covered Newton-John's "Let Me Be There" and sang it on her 1970's variety show, "Dolly."
9. "Come On Over" (1976)
MCA RecordsThe lead single from Olivia's seventh studio album of the same name. "Come On Over" peaked at #5 on the U.S. country chart.
8. "Let Me Be There" (1973)
MCA RecordsThis song was Newton-John's first Top 10 single in the U.S., peaking at No. 6, and won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocalist.
7. "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" (1974)
MCA RecordsA number two country hit, "Let Me Be There" was nominated for the 1974 Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year.
6. "Have You Never Been Mellow" (1975)
MCA RecordsThis song shot to number three on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Have You Never Been Mellow" was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards but lost to Janis Ian's "At Seventeen."
5. "Sam" (1977)
MCA Records"Sam" was released in January 1977 as the third and final single from Newton-John's eighth studio album, 'Don't Stop Believin'.' The song was considered pop but was also played at country stations.
4. "Let It Shine" (1975)
MCA RecordsOlivia's version was released as the second and final single from her sixth studio album, 'Clearly Love.' In January 1976, the single went to number five on the U.S. Country chart.
3. "Don't Stop Believin'" (1976)
MCA RecordsThis fantastic song went to number fourteen on the country chart. Newton-John re-recorded the track for her 2005 album 'Stronger Than Before.' She also titled her 2019 memoir after the song.
2. "Please Mr. Please" (1975)
MCA RecordsThe wonderful classic begins as an apparent tribute to the jukebox and how one can listen to a lot of great music for a low price. But instead of continuing along those lines, the song picks up on how some songs on the jukebox can trigger bad memories. The lyrics sing, "Please, Mr. please, don't play B-17 It was our song, it was his song, but it's over."
1. "I Honestly Love You" (1974)
MCA RecordsOlivia sang this song to end most of her concerts, telling fans how much she loved them. Her first number-one single in the United States and Canada. It remained her signature solo song until the 1981 pop hit "Physical."
