Olivia Newton-John - Grace and Gratitude Renewed

She’s still most famous as the star of 1978 cult musical movie Grease and the singer of “Physical,” her ubiquitous hit from the 1980s. But Olivia Newton-John may one day also be remembered as a passionate health advocate. Ever since she survived breast cancer in 1992, the singer-actress has been on a mission to promote cancer awareness. Two years ago, she raised money to build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne and led a 228 km walk along the Great Wall of China, joined by various celebrities and cancer survivors throughout the trek.

Musically, the British-born, Australian-raised star chronicled her ordeal on 1994’s Gaia: One Woman’s Journey and then in 2006 released a healing CD, Grace and Gratitude, which benefited women’s health charities. Now Newton-John is releasing a re-recorded version of her healing CD. It includes two new songs and six tracks with new vocals. Explains Newton-John: “I want to bring some of the happy energy I have been blessed with these past few years to this revisited collection.”

Like its predecessor, Grace and Gratitude Renewed is produced by and co-written with Toronto talent Amy Sky. Sky joins Newton-John on a new, revamped rendition of “I Will Lift Up My Eyes” and co-wrote the new “Help Me to Heal.” But Newton John’s “happy energy” can best be heard on the uplifting “The Power of Now” and the stirring “Love is Letting Go of Fear,” where the Grammy-winning singer's joyful, soaring voice could well have the power to heal.