Olivia Newton

Release time：2024-05-29 09:41:19 Source：International Inklings news portal

Olivia Newton-John and her sister Rona Newton-John had a difficult relationship, Rona's son has claimed. 

Emerson Newton-John, 49, has spilled on the strained siblings in a new interview, with the US-based racing driver saying there was 'resentment' between the pair. 

'As much as Rona and Olivia loved each other, had a close relationship and would have done anything for each other, there was resentment, definitely, and on a lot of levels,' Emerson told Mindfood. 

'It wasn't just the way in which their parents treated Olivia in comparison to Rona, but it was no secret that my mom also had aspirations to be a star, whether it was as an actress or a singer, or both,' he continued. 

'And I think she could have been. I don't think Olivia was any more talented than her, but one got that lucky break and one didn't. That's a tough pill to swallow.' 

Olivia Newton-John and her sister Rona Newton-John had a difficult relationship, Rona's son has claimed. Olivia and Rona are pictured in 2008

Emerson says Rona teased Olivia by calling her 'Pollyanna' which Olivia 'absolutely hated'. 

He claims Rona saw her sister as 'the goody-two-shoes Snow White' while Rona was 'the naughty schoolgirl who had a lot more fun'. 

Olivia died at age 73 at her home in Santa Ynez, California on August 8, 2022, following a 20-year battle with breast cancer.

She fought several brave battles against cancer and after first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, which was successfully treated and went into remission, but it later returned in both 2013 and 2017.

Emerson Newton-John, 49, (right) has spilled on the strained siblings in a new interview, with the US-based racing driver saying there was 'resentment' between the pair

'As much as Rona and Olivia loved each other, had a close relationship and would have done anything for each other, there was resentment, definitely, and on a lot of levels,' Emerson said

Olivia's death resulted in an outpouring of public grief and heartfelt tributes from those close to her including Grease co-star John Travolta and Victorian premier Dan Andrews, who offered a state funeral in her honour.

Rona also died of cancer in 2013 at the age of 70. 

Emerson is a US-based professional racing driver known for his career in NASCAR, and his father is Graham Hall.

His half-siblings are songwriter Brett Goldsmith, 62, and model Tottie Goldsmith, 61 - Rona's children with former husband, nightclub mogul Brian Goldsmith. 

Olivia meanwhile had one daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, 38, a US-based singer and actress. 

Olivia died at age 73 at her home in Santa Ynez, California on August 8, 2022, following a 20-year battle with breast cancer

READ MORE: Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe Lattanzi reveals she was struck by mysterious illness - but claims she was later cured by Balinese elephants

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