Olivia Newton-John actress and Grammy winning singer, dead at age 73

Olivia Newton-John, actress, philanthropist, and Grammy award-winning singer has passed at the age of 73. While it has not been confirmed that her death was cancer related, it is well-known that Newton-John battled breast cancer for years. Newton-John is survived by her husband, John Easterling, who announced the sad news via her official Facebook page:

Courtesy of John Easterling

“Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.

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.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund here.

Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall. – via John Easterling, husband, Olivia Newton-John

She signed with Decca Records and in 1966 recorded a version of Jackie DeShannon’s “Till You Say You’ll Be Mine,” then became the sole female member of a girl group band called Tomorrow, which was brought together by Don Kirshner. He hoped to create a U.K. version of The Monkees. She then opened for Cliff Richard on tour and then appeared on his TV show before recording another version Bob Dylan’s “If Not for You,” for her first album. In 1973, she received her first Grammy Award, winning for the best country vocalist for her U.S. album debut, Let Me Be There. This was a title track off of her top 10 singles. She then had her first two No. 1 hit with “I Honestly Love You” in 1974 and “Have You Never Been Mellow” a year later.

Newton-John sold more than 100 million albums and had nearly 40 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 during her years in music. She did country-pop and soft-rock in the 1970s and ’80s. However, her fame rose to a new level when she was cast as Sandy Olsson in the blockbuster hit, Grease, starring opposite John Travolta as Danny Zuko in 1978 which landed her hits like “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” and “You’re The One That I Want” written by longtime pal John Farrar. She even re-teamed with Travolta for a fantasy comedy called Two of a Kind in 1983, bringing her new song, “Twist of Fate,” back into the top 10.

See Newton-John in a clip from Grease below:

Newton-John shed her good girl image by completely reinventing herself as a Spandex aerobics fantasy in a sexy and comedic music video for hr single, “Physical”. It spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Top 100 from 1981 into early 1982. Newton-John retained the title of having a single remain the longest time in the top spot for the entire decade. She went on to have many other hits such as “Let Me Be There,” “If You Love Me (Let Me Know),” “Make a Move on Me” and “Heart Attack,” among many others.

During her tenure, Newton-John appeared in Sordid Lives in 2000 by playing the barfly Bitsy Mae Harling and in a TV spinoff for Logo. She sang during the Opening Ceremony at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Later appearing on the films score, A Hockey Musical, in 2010 and A Few Best Men in 2011. In April 2014, she began a three-year residency where she performed at the Flamingo Las Vegas. In the midsts of all of that she found time to make a cameo playing  herself in two episodes of Glee.

However, Newton-John always kept one thing at the forefront of her mind, helping others. She helped launch the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne and raised hundreds of millions of dollars in the fight against the disease. She always preferred to be called a cancer “thriver” rather than a cancer “survivor.” ‘Survivor’ sounds like someone clinging onto a lifeboat,” she said to Today in an interview from 2017. “A thriver’s someone who’s already off the boat and on land.” She also supported many other charities and environmental concerns.

Below is a segment from Sunday Profile (courtesy of CBS Sunday Morning) where speaks about her journey with Breast Cancer:

In May 2017, she announced that after 25 years in remission, her cancer was back and had spread. In August, 2018 she canceled a two-date tour just three weeks after announcing it. She was to reminisce and speak about her career with an interviewer in Melbourne and Sydney recently. Again, at this time there is no confirmation that, that is how she passed. While we want to respect her privacy, if you are all listening to her music right now, remember to donate in her name to her foundation here. Everyone at TWE sends their condolences to her family and fans around the world. While she left us too soon, she will always be our favorite Rydell High cheerleader and ultimate pink lady badass. Browse below to see what some of her friends have posted in honor of her.

John Travolta’s statement via Twitter, Graphic Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

Janis Joplin via Twitter, Photo Courtesy of Janis Joplin

Randall Kleiser, Director of Grease, Graphic courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter. 

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