'I didn't think I'd sing again': Olivia Newton-John, 65, announces Las Vegas residency nine months after sister's death

By Heidi Parker

Published: 15:04 EDT, 4 February 2014 | Updated: 19:20 EDT, 4 February 2014

Olivia Newton-John announced her Las Vegas residency at The Flamingo Hotel And Casino on Tuesday.

The 65-year-old was supposed to start her Summer Nights show last summer, but had to delay it after she was left mourning her sister Rona's death in May.

The I Honestly Love You singer told Entertainment Tonight: 'There was a time where I didn’t think I'd sing again, but time is a wonderful healer.'

Set for Sin City: Olivia Newton-John, seen here performing in 2013, announced on Tuesday she will start her Las Vegas residency in April

She added: 'It doesn’t heal everything but singing for me is my way of healing and it always has been.

'Whenever I've gone through difficult times in my life music is what has helped me get through and [Rona] was always there for me, so I know, that I need to keep singing, she didn’t want me to stop.'

Rona died from a brain tumor. 'My beautiful sister Rona sadly passed on May 24th in Los Angeles. It was May 25th in Australia – which was our mother Irene's birthday,' Olivia, wrote on her Facebook page soon after the passing.

Sad times: The star in 2011 with her sister Rona (far right) who passed away of cancer in May

The blonde is looking forward to the distraction of Vegas, where Britney Spears also has a residency, hers at Planet Hollywood.

'I'm really, really excited,' the Grease star told the Today show during a Tuesday morning phone in. 'I'm gonna be in Donnie and Marie [Osmond's] room, which is old style and intimate.'

Her first of 45 performances starts on April 8.

'I don't perform every night, but I will be performing various weeks throughout the year,' said the songstress.

Happy: With husband John Easterling in Australia in September

'Yeah it's gonna be a lot of fun,' she added.

The beauty has plenty of material to share. She's been cranking out hit songs like Have You Ever Been Mellow, Hopelessly Devoted To You and Magic since the '70s.

And she promises to bring up the past.

'I'll be taking on a musical journey through my life, through my music my career,' the Two Of A Kind actress said.

'I'll do my songs from Grease to Xanadu and my country music and some of my new healing music material and some of my favorite oldies,' the LA resident told Today's Savannah Guthrie, who revealed she's a big Newton-John fan.

Britney's show also includes several of her old hits like Toxic.

Hopefully the Let Me Be There singer will include her daughter Chloe Lattanzi, a talented singer herself, in the show.

An icon: The Australian became a household name after co-starring with John Travolta in 1978's Grease

Still friends: The stars seen here soon after collaborating on a song for a Christmas album in 2012

The young beauty has been sober for almost a year after battling an addiction to cocaine and alcohol.

Before that she took a time out to deal with her anorexia.

On January 24 the mother and daughter were seen fabric shopping at LA's F&S store.

Newton-John also told Today that there is a philanthropic angle to her show.

'The Flamingo family very generously has offered to give a portion of every ticket sold to my cancer wellness center,' the blonde disclosed. 'It's very special.'

Olivia was in the news in 2012 for releasing a song with her Grease co-star John Travolta. The tune was for charity and included in a Christmas album.

Family: The Suddenly singer walking in LA with daughter Chloe Lattanzi in February 2013