Olivia Newton-John plays Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, Florida on April 20, 2017. Credit: Caesar Carbajal

Ask anyone who grew up in the 1970’s (and the 1980’s as well, for that matter) which fair-haired, Australian female vocalist owned radio, TV and silver screen markets and the answer is quite obvious. The gorgeous, golden-locked singer that was just about everywhere for that timespan is Olivia Newton-John. Whether dominating country music radio airwaves through the early days of her rise to fame or through her blockbuster appearance in the 1978 high school musical Grease until her days of pseudo-new wave experimentation in the early 80’s, Olivia and her beaming smile and likeable image made quite an impact.

UPDATE (May 30, 2017): As of May 30, Olivia Newton-John has postponed all of her U.S. and Canadian tour dates after learning that breast cancer has metastasized to her lower back. The news comes just a few days after the 68-year-old pop star cancelled a handful of Midwestern dates. She was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. Fans looking to get refunds for shows are being asked to contact venues for more information. Her camp has suspended any interview requests as she prepares for treatment and healing. Read her full statement via Billboard.

Fast forward through many decades and the multi-talented entertainer, now 68, has retained a loyal, faithful fan base that enables her to still tour the globe and attract sell out crowds around the world.

Luckily for local ONJ fans, her current stint of U.S. dates included a Thursday night stop at Cleawater’s plush Capitol Theater which was played to an enthusiastic, vocal audience who had no qualms about singing along to Olivia’s long string of chart singles and getting up to dance about.

Opening up just after 8 p.m. with no opening act on the bill, Olivia appeared amid a video backdrop featuring she and her adult daughter romping through a video of a recent dance remake of one of her best known songs. Dressed in sparkly black blazer and slacks, the singer looked ageless and fashionable as she pranced about to the night’s first offering, a spirited version of “Magic”, one of the many hit singles from her 1980 fantasy/musical/romantic film Xanadu. Fronting a full band that featuring a pair of able backup singers and a multi-instrumentalist that laid some snazzy sax work during the first number of the night and throughout, Olivia benefitted from a solid, impressive cast of musicians.

Her sweet, wispy voice has transformed into a huskier, sultrier instrument itself which added a new level of sensuality and sexiness to most of her tunes. Playfully chatting with the audience throughout the night and adding personal touches like politely offering her passion for ecological issues, animal rights and cancer awareness, Newton-John’s gentle, affable approach felt more like a good friend offering insight into the causes that are meaningful to her rather than a preachy zealot atop a soapbox.

A comedic bit came when after delivering an energetic romp through her 1981 light disco aerobics anthem “Physical”, John giggled about the song’s banning in several markets upon its release. “Can you believe it…with some of the stuff that’s on the radio now ?” she laughed. Admittedly, the banning was more than likely attributed to the seemingly sweet girl next door singing lyrics like “let’s get animal” which might have been too much for censors to fathom at the time. Nonetheless, the song and the album it came from were among Olivia’s greatest successes through her long, internationally recognized career.

A personal highlight came when a non-stop video montage of many of her career highlights flashed on the screen at the rear of the stage while the singer delivered a medley of some of her hits. As blips of Olivia posing with everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Elton John danced across the screen inter-spliced with appearances on award shows, variety shows and films, a vivid reminder of how huge a star the woman was throughout the 70’s and the 80’s was apparent. Boys had crushes on her. Lots of girls had crushes on her. Dads, grandpas and uncles had a thing for her. And what independent woman at the time didn’t wish she oozed the sex appeal and the raw magnetism she portrayed in that last scene in the 1978 box office smash Grease?

Spotlighting that film and the special place it holds in the hearts of so many fans, Olivia looked back and pointed out that the movie will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year. Leaning heavily on that film’s soundtrack for the latter part of the show, Olivia playfully danced about the stage with her male backup singer who assumed many of the John Travolta-led parts from the movie’s songs while she exuded a seemingly genuine bubbly attitude and giddiness while singing those songs for what’s undoubtedly the millionth time.

The showstopper was her warm, torchy reading of her lovelorn solo ballad from the movie, “Hopelessly Devoted To You”. Her emotive reading added longing and pain to the already melodramatic tune but with an edge of maturity and wisdom. True, Olivia can’t hit some of the dulcet, ringing notes she hit in her youth but, as any wise, clever artist can pull off, she found creative ways to wrap a new layer of ingenuity to her delivery which was richly displayed during this particular performance.

Not forgetting about how receptive the U.S. was to her in the early days and how she became an overnight success thanks to country radio’s fondness for hits like “If You Love Me (Let Me Know)” and “Please Mr. Please,” Olivia paid homage to the format that so willingly accepted a young Australian girl and sandwiched her singles among the likes of Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard and George Jones.

Wrapping with an encore that featured her musical director at the piano accompanying her solo for a gorgeous rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” Olivia left the audience of mixed ages, backgrounds and orientations wanting more.

The cancer-survivor and long-time mega star seemed downright humbled by the hearty reaction and ovation she received throughout the night and her fans seemed just as dazzled by this, a rare appearance by an internationally recognized entertainer, in this perfect setting.