Julianne Hough on What Olivia Newton-John Really Thinks of Her Grease Role

Look at her, she’s Sandra Dee!

Julianne Hough admits she feels a lot of pressure going into Fox’s upcoming live production of Grease, but she’s taking a lot of pride in the stamp of approval she’s received from former Sandy Olivia Newton-John.

“It’s huge that I got her blessing,” Hough, 27, says in the current issue of PEOPLE of Newton-John, who starred opposite John Travolta in the 1978 film version of the musical.

Hough, 27, got the chance to chat Newton-John, 67, in October when the Australian actress and singer guest-judged alongside her on Dancing with the Stars.

“She’s exactly who you hope she would be – so awesome and supportive,” Hough says of Newton-John.

• For more from Hough – including why she’s in no rush to wed fiancé Brooks Laich – pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday

Stepping into Sandy’s iconic sneakers (and red-hot heels) has been a life-long dream for Hough.

“ Grease was the first movie that I saw that I realized you could sing and dance and act all in the same movie,” she says.

But don’t expect her to present be a carbon copy of Newton-John’s performance when she goes live Jan. 31 on Fox.

She has specific moments in the film, like ‘Tell me about it, stud,’ where I know people will be disappointed if I don’t say it like she did with her inflection,” she says. “But for the most part, I am doing my own thing.”

Grease: Live airs Sunday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. ET on Fox.