Before her death, Olivia Newton-John was working on an album of duets.
The finished product, "Just The Two of Us: The Duets Collection" will be released May 5. If this song, the last thing she recorded, is anything like the rest of the project, we're in for a real treat.
Olivia Newton-John‘s final recording is a duet with Dolly Parton on her iconic song “Jolene.” She first recorded a version of it on her 1976 Come On Over album, following Dolly’s 1974 original on her album of the same name.
“My first memory of Olivia was when her song ‘Let Me Be There’ was a hit. I have loved her ever since,” Dolly says. “We had many occasions that we got to share together, either backstage or performing on the same shows, and I loved every moment that I ever got to spend with her.”
“I’ve always been inspired by her grit, tenderness, willingness and determination,” she adds.
Note that Olivia is seated during the entire recording, probably due to the discomfort she endured during her final days and weeks. But her voice never faltered.
Olivia won CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1974 on the strength of her early country hits. Ironically, that’s one year before Dolly would take home the trophy.
Olivia passed away last August at the age of 73.
I heard the song and thought "this may be better than Dolly's original version. Their voices together are simply beautiful." I had to listen more than once.