'I texted her': John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John decided via SMS to make their Christmas album ...after a boozy night with a record executive

 They're the iconic musical duo beloved by their Australian fans.

And while their supporters went into overdrive with the release of their Christmas album, John Farnham has revealed he and Olivia Newton-John decided to make the record rather casually via text, after a boozy night with a record executive. 

The revelation was made during a joint interview on Tuesday night's episode of The Project, in which John also reminisced about his first festive album more than four decades ago. 

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'I texted her': On Tuesday night's episode of The Project John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John revealed they decided to make their Christmas album via SMS

While promoting their album Friends For Christmas, the 67-year-old rocker revealed the idea came from a boozy meal with a Sony executive.

The man 'plied me with copious amounts of - I think it was red wine', John told The Project. 

'He said to me,  "do you think you would make a Christmas album?"' the That's Freedom singer recalled.

Boozy beginnings: John got the idea after a meal the night before with a Sony executive - with lots of wine 

'And I thought "oh that's not a bad idea".'

After the Sony employee wondered whether Olivia would be interested, John reached out to her the next day.

 'So I texted her,' the veteran crooner said.

New songs: The musical pairing were on the show to promote their new album 

'I texted her the next day and said 'do you want to make a Christmas album?

'And I got back yes yes yes smiley face!'

The Project's hosts also poked fun at John by bringing out his last Christmas album, which was released 46 years ago. 

John's new album comes as the rocker revealed he turned down one of the most iconic ballads of the 20th century.

Times have changed: The Project's hosts also poked fun at John by bringing out his last Christmas album, which was released 46 years ago

Glad she got the text: Olivia agreed to John's proposal to make an album by responding with a smiley face emoji

Speaking to 7.30's Leigh Sales that same night, John said he declined eighties smash hit Wind Beneath My Wings.

But while the revelation drew an audible gasp from Olivia, John did not seem angry about turning the hit tune down, explaining 'You never know if it is going to be a hit'.

'There are are songs that I have knocked back that I've though "don't like that one",' he said. 

'I think one of them was Wind Beneath My Wings, I got sent Wind Beneath My Wings. Not for me, I didn't see it - but for Bette [Midler] it worked a dream.'

The song featured as the theme song for  Beaches, which starred also Bette, who later won  two Grammys and  went platinum with the single. 

'But for Bette [Midler] it worked a dream': John also revealed to a shocked Olivia that he turned down iconic ballad Wind Beneath My Wings

 

 

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