Entertainment legend Olivia Newton-John has died, aged 73
Olivia Newton-John became an international superstar with her role in Grease. But it needed to be rewritten to accommodate her.
Australian entertainment legend Olivia Newton-John has died, aged 73.
The actor, whose starring role in Grease in 1978 made her world famous, died at her ranch in California following a long battle with breast cancer.
John Travolta, who co-starred with Newton-John in the iconic movie, said her impact was “incredible” and that he loved her “so much”.
Her role in Grease was rewritten for her to accommodate her Australian accent.
Her husband, John Easterling, confirmed the news in a post to social media saying that Newton-John was a “symbol of triumphs and hope”.
She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. It went into remission but reappeared in 2013 and then again in 2017. At one point she said she was partly in “denial” about the disease, because if she dwelled upon it too much it would mean she wouldn’t “enjoy life”.
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In the family statement, Mr Easterling said Newton-John “passed away peacefully” early on Monday morning US time surrounded by family and friends.
“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer,” his statement read.
“In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund.”
John Travolta’s touching tribute
In a post to Instagram, Travolta praised Newton-John.
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much,” he wrote.
“We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Newton-John’s groundbreaking career
Newton-John was born in Cambridge, in England’s east, in 1948.
She began performing at just 14.
During her career, the singer, songwriter and actor won four Grammys and had five number one hits and ten top ten hits throughout her long career.
She was made at Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s 2020 New Year’s honours which meant she could officially used the term Dame Olivia Newton-John.
Her first solo album was released in 1971 with a title track by Bob Dylan. In 1974 she represented Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest finishing fourth in Brighton, in southern England, where ABBA won with Waterloo.
She also found success in this US where she won the 1974 Country Music Association female vocalist of the year gong despite not being American, ruffling feathers.
High school musical Grease, released in 1978, saw her fame head to even more lofty heights with the movie becoming the highest grossing in the US that year.
When Newton-John came on board, the role of Sandy was rewritten to be that an Australian student to take account of her accent.
The soundtrack gave Newton-John three top five singles including You’re the One That I Want, Summer Nights and Hopelessly Devoted to You with John Travolta.
The film Xanadu followed in 1980 with the title track another massive hit for Newton-John. It was there she met Matt Lattanzi who she would wed in 1984. The pair parented Newton-John’s only child Chloe Lattanzi and divorced in 1995.
Just three days ago, Ms Lattanzi posted a picture of her and Newton-John on Instagram with the caption: “I worship this woman. My mother. My best friend”.
After the news of her mother’s passing was announced, Ms Lattanzi posted another picture on social media (below), with no comment, simply of her and her mum when she was a child.
In 1981, Newton-John released the album Physical with the eponymous track becoming one of her most successful songs.
“I’ve had many lives in music. I’ve had country when I started, then I crossed over into pop,” she previously told CNN in 2017.
“I had Xanadu and Grease, many songs in between. I feel very grateful. I have such a large repertoire to choose from.”
She married John Easterling in 2008. Just days ago a picture of the pair (below) was posted to her Facebook page.
Newton-John’s long fight against cancer
Newton-John batted cancer for decades – and raised millions along the way.
In 2008 she helped fund the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne’s north eastern suburbs.
In 2019, Newton-John told US TV host Gayle King on the CBS Sunday Morning program that she coped with cancer by being – to a certain extent – in “denial” about it
“Denial is really good. It’s really healthy.”
The singer said thinking about cancer was “consuming” her day.
“And after a time I went, you know what, I don’t know what my time is; I need to enjoy my life.
“So I’m going to eat a cookie. And I’m going to have a cup of tea if I want to; and if I want to have a little bit of wine, I’m going to do that because the joy of life and everyday living has to be a part of that healing process as well.”
According to website TMZ, and reported by the US Sun, a source confirmed the cancer was the cause of Newton-John’s passing.
“After a 30-year cancer journey, she lost her battle to metastatic breast cancer.”
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