A Friendship for the Ages: Didi Conn on Olivia Newton-John's Heartfelt Tribute and the Image That Will Last Forever

Years after the death of her Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John, Didi Conn still carries a vivid image of her late friend, one that perfectly captures the warmth and generosity that made the singer beloved by millions.

Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE in an interview tied to her new campaign for Laura Geller Beauty, 74-year-old Conn reflected on the friendship she shared with her former Grease costar and recalled a touching moment that played out regularly during Newton-John's concerts.

"Whenever I think about Olivia, I think about when I would see her [at] her concerts," Conn tells PEOPLE.

Conn and Newton-John first met while filming 1978's Grease, where Newton-John played Sandy Olsson, and Conn portrayed Frenchy, one of the Pink Ladies. What began as a working relationship on one of the most iconic movie musicals of all time blossomed into a lifelong friendship that would endure for decades. Newton-John, who died in 2022 at age 73 after a decades-long battle with breast cancer, often included a Grease segment near the end of her live shows. Before launching into those songs, she would frequently acknowledge Conn from the stage.

"She'd always do a Grease set at the end of her concert, and right before that, she'd talk to the audience," Conn recalls, adding that Newton-John would tell concertgoers, "Sometimes in life you make a friend and then you have that friend your whole life and I have one like that here today."

Then she would call out directly to Conn, asking, "Didi, are you here?"

"And I go, 'Hi, Olivia, I'm here,'" she says. "The place would go nuts, and then I'd come on the stage, and I became like a rock star for five minutes."

The two friends would then perform songs from Grease together, but it was what took place after that segment that remains most meaningful to Conn. Following the Grease songs, Conn would step to the side of the stage and watch Newton-John perform her final number, the 1974 hit "I Honestly Love You."

"I would stand off stage and watch her do her last song, which was, 'I Honestly Love You,'" Conn says. "She'd stand there and sing, and she'd go like this with her hands to her audience, to her fans, say, 'I honestly love you.'"

Conn adds: "She really meant it. She meant it with all her heart."

"So that's the image I have of Olivia," she says.

A Bond That Began on Set

The friendship between Conn and Newton-John was forged on the set of Grease, a film that would become a cultural phenomenon and remain a beloved classic for generations. Conn has previously spoken about how she used improvisation to soothe Newton-John's first-day jitters on set, a gesture that helped break the ice and set the tone for their enduring connection.

Over the years, their bond deepened beyond the confines of Hollywood. They supported each other through life's highs and lows, with Conn often attending Newton-John's concerts and sharing in the joy of performing together. Newton-John's public acknowledgment of their friendship was a testament to the depth of their connection, a rare and beautiful thing in an industry often characterized by fleeting relationships.

The Power of "I Honestly Love You"

Newton-John's decision to close her concerts with "I Honestly Love You" was not just a musical choice; it was a deeply personal statement. The song, which became one of her signature hits, captured her heartfelt gratitude and affection for her fans. For Conn, watching her friend perform that song night after night was a reminder of the kind of person Newton-John was: genuine, loving, and unpretentious.

Conn's memory of Newton-John standing on stage, reaching out to her audience with open hands, is a powerful image of an artist who truly connected with the people who loved her. It's an image that has stayed with Conn, offering comfort and inspiration in the years since her friend's passing.

A New Chapter: The Laura Geller Beauty Campaign

Conn recently partnered with Laura Geller Beauty for a nostalgic campaign promoting the brand's Full Root-ine Hair & Brow Concealing Cream + Powder. In a playful nod to her memorable "Beauty School Dropout" scene from Grease, Conn stars in a tongue-in-cheek "Beauty Service Announcement" encouraging women to skip expensive salon visits in favor of simple at-home beauty solutions. The campaign launched as an Amazon Prime Day exclusive on June 22.

The collaboration is a fitting tribute to Conn's enduring appeal and her ability to connect with audiences across generations. Just as Newton-John's music continues to resonate with fans, Conn's work, whether on screen or in beauty campaigns carries the same warmth and authenticity that defined her friendship with the late star.

A Legacy of Love

Didi Conn's memories of Olivia Newton-John are a reminder of the power of friendship and the importance of cherishing the people who touch our lives. Through her stories, Conn keeps Newton-John's spirit alive, sharing with the world the image of a woman who sang with her whole heart and loved with her whole soul.

"I honestly love you" was more than a song for Newton-John it was a philosophy. And for Conn, it remains a lasting tribute to a friend who will never be forgotten.

The circus of Hollywood is always evolving. But the friendship between Didi Conn and Olivia Newton-John is a reminder that some bonds are timeless.