Olivia Newton-John's niece has reflected on her beloved aunt's legacy and shared details of her final days.
The 73-year-old Grease star's niece, Tottie Goldsmith, appeared on Australia's A Current Affair show on Tuesday (August 9) to share that she had the chance to say goodbye to her Aunt a few days ago.
The 59-year-old actress said while she was not able to make it to Newton-John's house in California on time, the singer's husband, John Easterling, 70, connected the two over FaceTime.
"I managed to see her, and told her all the things I needed to say and wanted to say," Goldsmith revealed on the show. "She was leaving us... but I could feel like she got it."
"It wasn't just the cancer that got her, it was other complications, being in a hospital and with a very susceptible immune system," Goldsmith added. "She got secondary infections. She really went down in the past five, six days."
Goldsmith - who is the daughter of the 'Physical' singer's sister, Rona Newton-John - spoke on behalf of her siblings and said the Grammy award winner was "more than a mother" and an "incredible part of their lives".
The icon was open about her health since announcing her breast cancer diagnosis in 1992, then again in May 2017 and a final time in September 2018.
In 2020, she spoke to The Guardian about the disease and said: "It’s been a part of my life for so long. I felt something was wrong. It’s concerning when it comes back, but I thought 'I’ll get through it again.'"
"It's not a shock, we've known how sick she's been, especially the last five days," Goldsmith said of her aunt on Tuesday, who passed away at her home in Southern California.
The Fire actress recalled the time when Newton-John was getting treatment at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, and saw was "really skinny and unwell" so she asked her if she was "afraid of dying".
"She said, 'Plonker', which was my nickname to her, she said, 'I'm not, I'm not afraid, I've done more in my life than I could have ever imagined,'" Goldsmith remembered.
"She honestly never imagined her life would be how it was," the niece said. "She's struggled with a lot of pain and it's been a tough road."
Goldsmith saidthat she believes her aunt's cancer center and helping those with cancer is "what kept her going" in the midst of her very own battle with the disease.
"The cancer center was more important to her than, not her family - Chloe and John and us - but more than her career," Goldsmith revealed.
The Taverna actress broke down into tears when she was asked what the 'Summer Nights' singer was most proud of in life, answering: "Chloe" - referring to the daughter Newton-John shared with ex-husband Matt Lattanzi.
"She loved that girl so much. Chloe's doing it really tough, but she's been amazing." she emotionally said.
Easterling announced his wife's death on Monday (August 8), on the actor's social media platforms, writing: "Dame Olivia Newton-John passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends."
"We ask that everyone please respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time," he added.
Goldsmith was asked by the interviewer if Newton-John's family will accept a "state funeral" to celebrate her contributions.
The premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, further confirmed Tuesday that the government would offer a state funeral to celebrate Newton-John's "amazing contributions."
Goldsmiths said they plan to accept, adding: "We will, on behalf of not just our family, but I think Australia needs it. She's so loved."
Our thoughts continue to go out to Newton-John's family, friends, and fans at this time.