Olivia Newton-John dead at 73: Singer-actress starred in ‘Grease,’ ‘Xanadu’

Olivia Newton-John, the British-born and Australian-raised singer-actress who became one of the top-selling pop stars of the 1970s, has died. She was 73.

Her husband John Easterling broke the news of her passing on her Facebook page: “Dame Olivia Newton-John 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.”

Newton-John recorded nine Top 10 singles throughout the 1970s, including the duet with John Travolta of “You’re the One That I Want,” from the soundtrack of the 1978 musical feature film “Grease.”

“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 (ONJFoundationFund.org),” the Facebook post continued.

Newton-John was everywhere on the pop charts throughout the 1970s. Her megahits included “If You Love Me Let Me Know” (1974) and “Have You Ever Been Mellow,” (1975), “Hopelessly Devoted to You” (also from the “Grease” soundtrack), and “I Honestly Love You” which earned her record of the year and best pop vocal performance by a female Grammy Awards in 1974. Her 1981 single “Physical” would become her biggest hit.

Newton-John announced her third round of battling cancer in 2017, this time at the base of her spine. An initial breast cancer diagnosis came in 1992; doctors again found cancer, in Newton-John’s shoulder, following a car accident in 2013.

When asked in a September 2018 interview with Australia’s Channel Seven if she was scared following the third diagnosis, she said, “I’d be lying if I said I never go there. There are moments; I’m human. If I allowed myself to go there, I could easily create that big fear. But my husband’s always there, and he’s there to support me.”

“I believe I will win over it,” she said. “That’s my goal.”

In an Instagram post on Monday, Travolta paid tribute to his leading lady, calling her impact “incredible.” “My dearest Olivia... 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!” Travolta wrote.

Newton-John was born on Sept. 26, 1948, in Cambridge, United Kingdom. She was the youngest of three children born to Brinley and Irene Newton-John. The family immigrated to Melbourne, Australia, in 1954. Her maternal grandfather, the Nobel Prize–winning physicist Max Born.

In addition to Easterling, Newton-John is survived by her daughter Chloe Lattanzi, sister Sarah Newton-John, brother Toby Newton-John, and many nieces and nephews.

More to come...

Contributing: USA Today