Olivia Newton-John's Daughter Opens up About Her Mom's Cancer in Heartbreaking Interview
Olivia-Newton John was diagnosed with cancer for a third time in 2017.
On Sunday, 60 Minutes Australia aired an exclusive interview with Olivia and her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.
During the interview, Chloe gave a rare, emotional look at how her mom's health has affected her.
Last year, Olivia Newton-John shared the heartbreaking news with the world that she had been diagnosed with cancer for the third time in three decades. This time, though, her doctors told her she had stage four breast cancer, and it had spread to her bones.
Needless to say, things haven't been easy for the Grease star these past few years, especially with recent rumors of her death. But thankfully, Olivia has an incredible support system cheering her on — including her 33-year-old daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.
In a rare, tearful interview with 60 Minutes Australia on Sunday, Chloe opened up about what it's been like to be at her mother's side throughout her cancer journey. First and foremost, she's making time to be with Olivia and focusing on living each day to the fullest, instead of worrying about what the future holds.
"We don't talk about [my mom's cancer]," Chloe told 60 Minutes Australia reporter Liz Hayes. "If she's having a day where she needs to talk about it, I'm there to listen and to always reassure. But I'll never bring it up unless she wants to."
Olivia added that she and Chloe have the "same kind of instincts" about these tough conversations today, but it's definitely taken some time for them to get there: During the 60 Minutes special, Chloe revealed that she first learned about her mom's original 1992 cancer diagnosis from a classmate while attending school in Australia. Finding out that way was hard for her, and it made her mom's cancer "more powerful" in her eyes.
"I think getting into it, explaining it to me, would have given me more of a sense of control," Chloe confessed. "I feel for my mom, though, because imagine having to tell your daughter that. She didn't want me to have to stress."
Ultimately, Chloe feels as though supporting Olivia throughout her cancer journey has helped her overcome her own demons (when she was younger, she public struggled with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, an eating disorder, and anxiety and depression) and build a stronger bond with her mom.
"Her illness helped me heal my illness," she admitted. "I knew I needed to be — I wanted to be — bright and happy and available and around for my mom when she was struggling with this ... There's no more running away anymore from your pain. Deal with it. She needs you. I feel like I've just become a much better person."
This shift in Chloe is something Olivia sees, as well, and she's infinitely grateful for her daughter's support. As she tries to stay positive and "see every day as a gift," as she said during the 60 Minutes interview, Chloe is right there by her side.
"I've seen a huge change and growth in her," Olivia said of her daughter. "She's just the most beautiful being, and has a huge heart and great compassion and understanding ... She's my daughter, and she's part of me, and I know that she gets affected. But she's very strong, and she doesn't really show me that."
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