Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England, but emigrated to Melbourne in 1954 when she was six. She released her first solo album, If Not For You, in 1971, aged 22.

Newton-John in 1978. Picture: Geoff Clifford

The singer’s career reached new heights when she starred in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Grease in 1978, alongside John Travolta.

Olivia Newton-John as the transformed Sandy in Grease. The film centres around the lives of a group of high school seniors, though none of the principal cast members were anywhere near high school age themselves. Newtown-John turned 29 during filming. Picture: Supplied

In 1980 the actress and singer appeared in her next film Xanadu, where she met Matt Lattanzi whom she would later marry. The film flopped but the soundtrack was a huge success, including tracks such as Magic and Xanadu.

In 1981, Newton-John released her most successful studio album, the double platinum Physical. The provocative lyrics of the title track prompted two radio stations to ban the single from their playlists.

Newton-John re-teamed with Travolta in 1983 for the critical and commercial failure, Two of a Kind.

Newton-John with Michael Jackson in Sydney in 1983. Picture: News Limited. .

Newton-John married her long-time boyfriend, actor Matt Lattanzi, in 1984. The pair divorced in 1995.

With daughter Chloe and Lattanzi.

Newton-John launches her first ‘Koala Blue’ store in Australia in 1990. She started the Los Angeles-based business seven years earlier with friend and fellow singer Pat Carroll, originally for Australian imports. The company declared bankruptcy and closed in 1992.

In 1992 Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction to recover and became an advocate for breast cancer research. She is pictured here with guitarist Tommy Emmanuel at the 1994 Rugby League Grand Final.

The singer and her daughter Chloe Lattanzi attend the premiere of the 20th anniversary re-issue of Grease at the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square, London, in 1998.

Newtown-John met cameraman Patrick McDermott a year after her 1995 divorce from Matt Lattanzi, and the couple dated on and off for nine years. McDermott disappeared following a 2005 fishing trip off the Californian coast. Speculation followed that he had faked his own death.

Singer Anthony Warlow with Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham in 1998.

Tennis champion Pat Rafter with Newton-John at the Olympic Torch Relay in 2000.

Newton-John with Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt, left, and Russia’s Marat Safin in the 2005 Australian Open Mens final.

With Molly Meldrum in 2007.

Newton-John married John Easterling, founder and president of the Amazon Herb Company, in June 2008.

In 2015, The Austin Hospital in Victoria became the Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute featuring a suite of research programs focusing on a broad range of cancer mechanisms and cancer types. In May 2017, it was announced that Newton-John’s breast cancer had returned. Picture: Nicole Cleary.

In 2018 the singer received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters at a special graduation ceremony at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Picture: AAP

Newton-John reunited with John Travolta in 2018 to attend the Grease 40th anniversary screening in Beverly Hills, California. Picture: Getty Images/AFP