Entertainment reporter Craig Bennett revealed details of Helen Reddy’s upcoming memorial service during his appearance on Studio 10 on Thursday.
The 58-year-old revealed he’d been among Helen’s ‘close friends and family’ who were invited to a ‘Zoom service’ to farewell her.
‘For those wondering, she’ll be sent off in a celebration of her life that is happening October 25, which would have been her 79th birthday,’ he said.
Close: Entertainment reporter Craig Bennett revealed details of Helen Reddy’s upcoming memorial service during his appearance on Studio 10 on Thursday
Craig said the virtual event was likely to be ‘hugely star-studded’, given her many famous friends.
Describing her as ‘a most remarkable woman’, Craig said Helen had counted Hollywood legends Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Carol Burnett among her close friends.
The Studio 10 personality revealed he was ‘very great friends’ with the legendary singer, visiting her in Los Angeles earlier this year.
Sad goodbye: The 58-year-old revealed he’d been among Helen’s ‘close friends and family’ who were invited to a ‘Zoom service’ to farewell her
He said she was ‘smiling, gorgeous, but frail’, and admitted ‘the ravages of dementia were closing in’ before her death on September 29.
Speaking about his late friend, Craig also revealed that if it wasn’t for Helen, Olivia Newton-John might never have landed her iconic role as Sandy in Grease.
He revealed what he described as a ‘very, very, very little known story’ about the two Aussie entertainment pioneers.
Helping hand: If it wasn’t for Helen, Olivia Newton-John (pictured) might never have landed her iconic role as Sandy in Grease
Tell-all: Appearing on Studio 10 on Thursday, Craig revealed what he described as a ‘very, very, very little known story’ about his late friend
Craig said Helen had invited Olivia, 72, over to her home for a party in the 1970’s, shortly after the Xanadu singer moved to Los Angeles.
‘Olivia was just starting off in America, and Allan Carr, the producer of Grease was there,’ the 58-year-old journalist recounted.
‘Helen, always so ballsy and wonderful, said, “Allan! Here is your Sandy,” and bingo, that’s kind of how Olivia Newton-John got that job.’
Fate: Craig said (pictured at the American Music Awards in 1978) had invited Olivia, 72, over to her home for a party in the 1970’s, shortly after the Xanadu singer moved to Los Angeles
Friends: Helen died late last month at the age of 78, following a battle with dementia, and Olivia paid tribute to her friend on Instagram shortly after news of her death broke
He added: ‘You go back and look at the magic of Grease, John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, and there’s no way you could figure anybody else in those roles, but it could have been anybody, but by virtue of Helen, it was Olivia.’
Helen died last month in LA at the age of 78, following a battle with dementia, and Olivia paid tribute to her friend on Instagram shortly after news of her death broke.
‘Helen Reddy encouraged me and paved the way for my success in the USA,’ she captioned a photo of them playing tennis together circa 1970.
‘You go back and look at the magic of Grease, John Travolta (pictured right), Olivia Newton-John, and there’s no way you could figure anybody else in those roles, but it could have been anybody, but by virtue of Helen, it was Olivia,’ revealed Craig