Olivia Newton-John dead: Iconic pop star and ‘Grease’ actress was 73

Olivia Newton-John dead: Iconic pop star and ‘Grease’ actress was 73 New York Post By Andrew Court August 8, 2022 3:32pm Updated Olivia Newton-John has passed away at the age of 73. The “Grease” legend died at her ranch in Southern California Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends following a long battle with cancer. The sad news was announced on her official Facebook page in a statement reading: “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.” The “Physical” songstress — who won four Grammy Awards — is survived by her husband of 14 years, John Easterling, and her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, 36. Newton-John died Monday morning at her ranch in California following a long battle with cancer. Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 1992, at the age of 43. She discovered that the disease had returned in 2013, before revealing in 2017 that it had metastasized to her lower back. The cancer subsequently spread to her bones, with doctors diagnosed it as Stage IV and saying there was very little chance of survival. Despite enduring chronic pain, the bubbly Australian became an outspoken advocate for cancer awareness and for treating the disease with marijuana. Despite her health struggle, her death has shocked the world of showbiz and has prompted an outpouring of grief from her many celebrity friends. “Grease” co-star John Travolta took to Instagram to pay tribute to his longtime pal, writing: “You made our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible.” Newton-John became a smash-hit sensation until her casting opposite John Travolta in 1978’s smash-hit movie musical “Grease”. Getty Images Newton-John was born in England in 1948, before relocating to Australia at the age of 14. She began singing in the late 1960s, eventually releasing her first solo album, “If Not for You,” in 1971, with the title track originally written by Bob Dylan and recorded by George Harrison. The song hit No. 1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart and No. 25 on the pop charts, and Newton-John went on to win three Grammys during the mid 1970s. The starlet won Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, for “Let Me Be There” in 1974 and both Record of the Years and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for the ballad “I Honestly Love You” in 1975. However, she did not become a bona fide superstar until her casting opposite John Travolta in 1978’s movie musical “Grease”. The film — in which she played Australian student Sandy Olsson — became the biggest blockbuster of the year. Olivia’s duet with co-star John Travolta “You’re the One That I Want” topping the pop charts and “Summer Nights” hitting No. 5. Olivia’s big solo ballad, “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” climbed to No. 3. "Grease" turned Newton-John into a bona fide superstar. The movie transformed Newton-John into one of the world’s biggest stars, with her next solo album, titled “Totally Hot,” racing up the charts later that same year. In 1980, Newton-John tried her hand at a second movie musical hit with “Xanadu,” but the film flopped with critics and didn’t resonate with audiences. The soundtrack, however, was a success, going double platinum and cementing Newton-John’s status as a pop superstar. Then, in 1981, the blonde scored her biggest with the sexually-charged anthem “Physical”, which track spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts. The track — which was accompanied by a steamy aerobics video clip — was eventually named the biggest song of the 1980s. Last fall, Newton-John told Fox News that she felt the track was bit raunchy when it first came out. “They call it reinventing yourself,” the superstar said about how fans looked at her differently following the release of the single. She added: “I wasn’t doing it on purpose. It just was the song that I was attracted to and the album. But I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to record it. I don’t think I was really aware of how raunchy it was when I was recording it until afterward, and that’s when I freaked out.” Newton-John was first diagnosed with with breast cancer back in 1992, when she was aged just 43. Doctors discovered a malignant tumor in her right breast and she underwent a modified radical mastectomy and chemotherapy before eventually being declared cancer free. She subsequently became a prominent advocate for promoting breast cancer awareness. In 2013, however, an X-ray taken after a car accident revealed Newton-John had cancer in right shoulder. The star was treated, but did not publicize the cancer diagnosis at the time. In 2017, Newton-John found returned and metastasized to her lower back. With the 2017 recurrence the cancer had spread to her bones and progressed to stage IV. In September of that year, Newton-John said she didn’t focus on her illness, but on things that make her happy, as a means of getting through the day with a positive attitude. “I’m a very privileged person, and I’m very aware of that,” she said. “I have a wonderful husband, I have all the animals I adore, I have an incredible career. I have nothing really to complain about.”