Olivia Newton-John has died at the age of 73. (Pictured: Newton-John in 2018 at a gala in Los Angeles)
ran./(Reuters/dpa) Olivia Newton-John, known from the musical adaptation “Grease”, has died at the age of 73. With “Grease” the singer became world famous in the 1970s.
Numerous American media reported on her death, citing her husband and his post in the social networks of the British-Australian songwriter and breast cancer activist.
Long fight against breast cancer
She passed away peacefully at her ranch in southern California on Monday morning surrounded by family and friends, the post said.
Newton-John had battled cancer for decades. “Olivia has been a symbol of victory and hope for more than 30 years as she shared her journey with breast cancer,” it said on Instagram and Facebook.
It’s been more than 40 years since she caused a sensation with her appearance in the hit film musical “Grease”. As the innocent Sandy, she turned John Travolta’s head in the role of the rebellious Danny in 1978.
Years before she sang songs like “You’re The One That I Want” in “Grease” with a ponytail, pettycoat and Travolta in a duet, Newton-John was a star.
Born in Cambridge, England, the granddaughter of the German Nobel Prize winner in physics, Max Born, and the daughter of a college president who emigrated to Australia, founded a girls’ band as a schoolgirl. A talent competition brought the 15-year-old back to Great Britain. In 1966 she recorded her first record there.
First American hit in 1974
Newton-John made a name for himself with his cuddly songs, especially in the USA. 1974’s “Let Me Be There” was her first American hit. Songs like “On The Banks Of Ohio”, “If You Love Me Let Me Know”, “I Honestly Love You” and “Have You Never Been Mellow” made her a hit queen there.
After “Grease” she was right back in front of the camera in 1980, for the fantasy musical “Xanadu” on roller skates to disco suits with the hit songs “Xanadu”, “Magic” and “Suddenly”. A year later, Newton-John released her most successful album “Physical”.
Her daughter from her marriage to dancer Matt Lattanzi was just six years old when Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. She canceled tours and temporarily moved to Australia from her adopted home of California. The marriage broke up in 1995. In 2008 she married businessman John Easterling. At her ranch in Santa Barbara, Newton-John championed the medicinal use of cannabis.