Olivia Newton-John performs at this year's Los Angeles Gay Pride festivities (Image: Getty) 

Olivia Newton-John is one of the most loved and enduring performers in the world. She is also one of the biggest gay icons ever - who many of us had crushes on and still do.

Whether it is because of her beautiful singing voice, her turns in the beloved films Grease and Xanadu or her activism, there is no one quite like Olivia.

Being a cancer survivor has not slowed Olivia down from any of the above endeavors. She has just released and new album A Celebration in Song featuring duets with some of her talented friends including the hit single and video "Right Here With You" with Delta Goodrem. She also appears on Sordid Lives on Logo (AfterElton.com’s parent company).

AfterElton.com: Congratulations on your marriage.
Olivia Newton-John: Oh, thank you.

AE: I caught your performance at Gay Pride in Los Angeles, CA this year.
ONJ: Oh yeah? I had a really fun time.

AE: You were great, I loved the show! Gay Pride LA was your only U.S. concert date for 2008, why did you choose to do only the festival?
ONJ: They asked me and I wanted to do one thing only this year as I am not touring right now. It was perfect timing and it was so much fun.

AE: Do you remember when you first realized you were a gay icon?
ONJ: I really don’t know, I don’t think about being an icon really. The gay fans have always been very loyal, there are a really great audience and have always been there for me.

AE: On your 1988 album The Rumor you recorded the first safe sex song by a mainstream artist, "Love and Let Live." AIDS hysteria was rampant at the time, did you receive any backlash for recording the song?
ONJ: Not at all, I’ve only ever gotten encouragement. I have never received any backlash, why would anyone do that? That would be a horrible thing.

AE: It took a lot of courage for you to do that at a time when everyone was so afraid of something that unknown.
ONJ: That was the very reason to do the song.

AE: Good for you! Did you ever see the stage production of Xanadu?
ONJ: I was there opening night.

AE: What did you think?
ONJ: I loved it, I thought it was wonderful.

We're excited to unveil a brand-spanking-new video blog, courtesy of our friends at Logo (which is also our parent company, of course). As you may have heard, Sordid Lives: The Series premieres next week on the gay net, and we've somehow talked series creator Del Shores and star Jason Dottley into doing a weekly vlog to give us the inside scoop on the episodes, showcase special guests and discuss all things home-fried, big-haired, and ... well, Southern.

In this intro, we meet Del and Jason (who are also husbands - yes, they can do that now in California!), who give us some background on the origins of the series and what folks can expect to see.

Check it out after the break, and be sure to visit logoonline.com each week for a new episode (they've decided to run the vlog there in the future, to fit in with all the other Sordid Lives content).

Sordid Lives: The Series will premiere on Logo later this month, but there will be a special screening and fundraiser in NYC next week to benefit a great cause, The Trevor Project

"The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock suicide prevention helpline for gay and questioning youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves lives though its free and confidential helpline, its website and its educational services."

Here's what you can expect if you buy tickets for next Tuesday's fundraiser:

7:00 p.m. Guest Arrivals

7:30 p.m. Celebrity Pre-Show hosted by Caroline Rhea

Special appearances by Olivia Newton-John & Beth Grant*, giving a special message about The Trevor Project. (*And you really should show up...I'd hate to have to question your commitment to the Sparkle Motion Lady)

Performances by Georgette Jones paying tribute to her mother by singing Tammy Wynette classics from the series; Rue McClanahan who will dish about `Sex On The Set`; and Leslie Jordan who will perform from his one man show `My Trip Down The Pink Carpet`and performance by Billboard Diva Debby Holiday!

Two new Olivia Newton-John songs (from the series) will be shown, as well as hysterical clips selected by Del Shores.

Sordid Lives: The Series Screening

9:30 p.m. VIP Celebrity After Party

If you can't show up for the benefit, you can still participate in the online auction, in which two costumes from the series are up for sale (including the above lovely Bitsy Mae blouse), plus the housecoat won by Brother Boy (which you can see in action in this Leslie Jordan interview).

The benefit takes place July 15th, so it's not too late to snatch up some tickets, and watch for the series (which is must see summer viewing) on Logo July 23rd.

If the words "Shoot her Wardell! Shoot her in the head!" mean something to you, I've got some very good news. First, the brand new (double-wide) trailer for Sordid Lives: The Series is up and running, and from the looks of things, the inspired insanity of the movie has transferred intact to the TV show. And second, LOGO (who owns this site, by the by) has announced that the soap will premiere on July 23rd.

Most of the original cast has returned, including Olivia Newton-John, Leslie Jordan, and Bonnie Bedelia. There are a couple of notable changes, though. Delta Burke was unable to reprise her role, so the character of Noleta is now being played by Caroline Rhea. Jason Dottley is now playing the character of Ty, the struggling gay actor, and in a genius casting decision, the character of the family matriach, Peggy (who was a corpse in the movie), is somehow alive and being played by Rue McClanahan. Guest stars in the first season include Margaret Cho, Carson Kressley, and Candis Cayne, which means this has the potential to rock a 10.0 on the gaymeter.

If you want to know more, visit LOGOonline for further details about the show.