The Grammy-winning star passed away after her 30-year battle with cancer.
By ET Online and Agencies | Updated:
AP
Born in Cambridge, England in 1948, Olivia Newton-John was the youngest of three children.
The multiple Grammy-winning superstar Olivia Newton-John, who won hearts with her performance as Sandy in the popular movie 'Grease', passed away at 73 on Monday after her 30-year-long battle with cancer.
Taking to her social media accounts, her husband John Easterling confirmed the news. He said that the pop star died peacefully at her ranch in Southern California, surrounded by family and friends. No cause of death was mentioned in the statement.
He also urged the media to respect their privacy in this difficult time. "We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time," the post read.
Newton-John, who had a flourishing music career spanning more than five decades, became one of the most popular entertainers in the world between 1973 and 1983. She bagged four Grammys after she starred with John Travolta in 'Grease' and Gene Kelly in 'Xanadu'. The fast-stepping Travolta-Newton-John duet, 'You’re the One That I Want', became the era’s biggest songs and sold more than 15 million copies.
Travolta too to Instagram to dedicate a post to his co-star. In his emotional note, he said that the singer-actress made everyone's 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," his post read.
Global icon Priyanka Chopra mourned Newton-John's demise. "Your legacy will always shine on," her caption read. PeeCee's Insta Story In 1981, 'Physical' was No. 1 for 10 weeks and was named Billboard’s song of the year despite being banned by some radio stations, as per an AP report. She had a few other hits after 'Physical', but she was mostly in news because of her personal life.
In 1995, her relationship with her first husband actor Matt Lattanzi, with whom she had a daughter actor-singer Chloe Lattanzi, ended. A years-long relationship with cameraman Patrick McDermott ended mysteriously. He then went missing during a 2005 fishing trip in California, and his fate remained unknown. Some reports claimed that he was settled in Mexico with a new girlfriend.
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In 1992, when she was preparing for a concert tour, her father passed away and she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. The family statement said that Newton-John has been a symbol of triumph and hope for over 30 years by sharing her breast cancer journey.
"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 @onjfoundation," Easterling wrote.
The singer devoted most of her time to her cancer foundation. According to AFP, the British-Australian star dedicated a number of albums and concerts to raise funds for research and early detection of the disease, including the construction of a health centre named after her in her adopted home Melbourne.
In 2018, she was diagnosed with cancer for the third time.
Newton-John is survived by her husband and daughter Chloe Lattanzi.
