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When you think of icons, it’s hard not to jump to 1980s superstar Olivia Newton-John instantly. Ever since she could, she worked her way in entertainment, singing and acting every chance she could. Starting at ten years old, Newton-John knew she was made for superstardom. From Greaseto Xanadu, captivating memoirs to cancer research advocacy, Newton-John touched millions of souls.
Sadly, on Aug. 8, it was announced that Newton-John passed away at 73 on her Southern California ranch with her family by her side. Her best friend of 40 years and former co-star John Travolta led the way for stars to mourn the impactful Oscar nominee. He went to Instagram, showing a throwback photo of the late star, leaving a tear-jerking tribute to his friend. “My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. 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 not only had an impressive, fantastic career but her life was lived to the fullest. Let’s look back at her life and career in photos to honor the loved, departed star we all grew up with.
Born the Youngest of Three
Born on Sept. 26, 1948, in Cambridge, United Kingdom, to Brinley “Bryn” and Irene Helene Newton-John, Olivia Newton-John was the youngest of three children, including her departed siblings Hugh and Rona, per Biography.
Moving to Australia & Starting Her Career
They emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1954 when Olivia Newton-John was only six years old. Performing has always been in Newton-John’s blood. Soon after she and her family moved to Melbourne, she began performing with the New Idea Youth Show Band under the stage name ‘Olivia Newton-John’ at age 10. While that didn’t last too long, she went on to form a group called “Sol Four” with some of her classmates when she was only 14. At the same time, she started acting and performing as “Lovely Livvy” for HSV-7’s The Happy Show, per Biography.
‘The Olivia Newton-John Band’ & ‘Pat and Olivia’
In the late 1960s, Newton-John moved back to the UK to work with her band “The Olivia Newton-John Band.” While that was short-lived, she went on to co-create a singing duo with fellow performer Pat Carroll. For a few years, the two toured at nightclubs, trying to make a name for themselves as the lovable singing duo named “Pat and Olivia.” However, in the mid-1970s, Carroll’s visa expired, leaving Newton-John to continue her solo singing career in the UK, per her website.
She Always Adored Animals
Olivia Newton-John is a big animal lover, loving any animal, big or small. She’s lived on a farm for a very long time, showing fans on her social media how her pets and baby chicks are doing. Newton-John has always had a soft spot for her furry friends, from puppies to horses.
Grammy Winning Powerhouse
In the early 1970s, Olivia Newton-John released her first solo album on vinyl called “Let Me Be Your Angel.” This led to her whopping success, earning four Grammys throughout her career. She was nominated 10 times, winning “Best Female Country Vocal Performance” for “Let Me Be There” in 1973, Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for “I Honestly Love You” in 1975, and “Video of the Year” for “Physical” in 1983.
She Released 26 Albums
Olivia Newton-John released around thirty albums in her entire career, ranging in genres like pop, country, gospel, rock and roll, disco, and children’s music.
She Was a Huge Environmentalist
According to her website, Olivia Newton-John was passionate about the environment, consistently donating time and money to different environmental organizations. She was also the first Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Program in 1991.
She Almost Didn’t Play Sandy in ‘Grease’
To date, Olivia Newton-John’s most notable character was when she starred as plucky girl-next-door Sandy in the classic musical Grease. It shot her into superstardom, and she always looked back on it fondly. However, in a previous interview with the Telegraph, she revealed she almost didn’t take the role.
At 30 years old, she thought she was “too old” to play the high schooler, but her buddy and co-star John Travolta was actually the one to convince her. “John was charming and really wanted me to do [the movie],” she said. “That was one of the deciding factors.”
Oscar & Golden Globe Nominee
Along with an impressive singing career, she earned an Oscar nomination and two Golden Globe nominations. However, her Oscar nomination was for Best Music, Original Song by John Farrar for Hopelessly Devoted To You in 1978. Her Golden Globe nominations were both from 1978, for her work in Grease. She was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and co-nominated for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture by John Farrar for the song “You’re The One That I Want.”
‘Xanadu’
Olivia Newton-John’s other most notable role was in the oddball fantasy hit Xanadu in 1980, where she played the lead role of Kira. Despite people loving Newton-John’s quirky character, the film didn’t do so great, actually being the reason the Golden Raspberry Awards were born.
Her First Marriage to ‘Xanadu’ Co-Star
Olivia Newton-John and her first husband Matt Lattanzi met on the set of Xanadu, with sparks flying soon after in 1980. Despite their 11-year age difference, they married soon after in 1984, welcoming their daughter Chloe Rose in 1986. However, they split up in 1995, remaining friends until her death.
She Loved Her “Strong” Daughter Chloe
While they had an up-and-down relationship growing up, Olivia Newton-John and her daughter Chloe Lattanzi grew super close when Lattanzi grew up. Lattanzi faced a lot of personal struggles, and Newton-John has been there for her, sharing how proud she is of her “strong” daughter. She previously told People in 2016, “We have a great relationship now.”
Businesswoman, Author, & Much More
Along with being an award-winning singer and actor, Olivia Newton-John went down on many different business ventures, per her website. She was an entrepreneur, author, and activist. Back in the 1980s, she opened the store Koala Blue, a store that was “all Australian,” later also releasing wine by the same name. As for her writing career, she released her iconic memoir in 2019 called Don’t Stop Believin.’
Her Loving Second Marriage
Newton-John married her second husband, John Easterling, the founder and president of the Amazon Herb Company, in the summer of 2008. They remained happily together until her death in 2022. They met through mutual friends during an environmental show, bumping into each other often at different charity functions. However, Easterling got into a car wreck, later living with Newton to recover from the accident. Then they fell in love on a trip to Peru, per Amomoma. How odd and romantic!
She Was an Avid Gardener
Olivia Newton-John loved working on her organic garden, growing produce, and updating fans on her social media about how her latest gardening adventure was going.
Her Grueling Cancer Journey & The Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre
If there’s one thing you can’t deny, it’s that Olivia Newton-John was a badass. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, getting a partial mastectomy, and underwent chemotherapy. However, she did recover but was sadly diagnosed again in 2017. But she never stopped fighting. She became a huge advocate for cancer research, later opening The Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in 2008, which is now one of the biggest cancer care centers in the world, per her website.
She & John Travolta Remained Best Friends
After working together on the iconic classic Grease, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta remained best friends. “[In tough times] John always reaches out to me,” she told People at Grease’s 40th Year Reunion. “When you share that kind of meteoric success — and nothing has been able to exceed it — you share a bond. I’ve been through her having a child, getting divorced, losing her sister. She’s been through my getting married, having children. It’s wonderful and full of shared memories.”
Her Final Film Credit in 2020
Olivia Newton-John’s last acting credit was playing Olivia in the 2020 film The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, and as you can see, her iconic smile lit up the screens.
Her Sudden Passing
On Aug. 8, Olivia Newton-John passed away at the age of 73 in her ranch in Southern California from her battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by her family and friends, leaving behind an amazing legacy.
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