Olivia Newton-John, Australian singer and iconic Grease actress has passed away “peacefully” during the early hours of Monday morning, 8 August 2022 at the age of 73 after a 30-year long battle with cancer.
According to an Instagram post on her official account shared by her husband, John Easterling, British-born Australian star passed away peacefully at her Southern California ranch surrounded by friends and family. The family has also requested that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
Thanks to a number of soft-rock and country hits such as “Let Me Be There”, “I Honestly Love You”, and “Please Mr. Please” she already gained a level of fame since 1973.
However, the multiple Grammy Award-winning entertainer was catapulted to a new level of stardom thanks to her role as Sandy in the biggest box-office musical film of 1978, Grease.
A timeless cinematic masterpiece still enjoyed to this day. We dare say it is arguably the most popular movie musical of all time as we and sing along to our favourites; “You’re The One That I want”, “Hopelessly Devoted To You”, and “Summer Nights.”
While her successful singing and acting career has been a lengthy journey amassing Grammy Awards, Number One hits, and millions of sold albums, her health and wellbeing too has been a lengthy journey with a series of ups and downs.
According to CNN, the actress revealed in September 2018 that she was undergoing treatment for cancer in the base of her spine, after being diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer in 2017 which had forced her to postpone her concert tour at the time.
She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. Having undergone chemotherapy, a partial mastectomy and breast reconstruction shortly thereafter, she was in remission for just over two decades but faced a recurrence in 2013.
In 2008, she built the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia and in 2020, she and her husband founded the Olivia Newton-John Foundation.
During an interview with The Guardian, Olivia expressed that despite the disease recurring and spreading, she would remain with a positive outlook.
“Three times lucky, right? I’m going to look at it like that. Listen, I think every day is a blessing,” she noted.” You never know when your time is over; we all have a finite amount of time on this planet, and we just need to be grateful for that,” she expressed.
In the same Instagram post announcing her death, Easterling paid tribute to her physical health journey and advocation for breast cancer research.
“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 @onjfoundation,” wrote Easterling.
As reported by E News, her family, friends and fans have taken to social media mourning the loss of the world’s beloved high school sweetheart.
Her daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi shared a montage of images with her mom ranging from her childhood to more recent times.
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Grease co-star, John Travolta shared a heartfelt post on Instagram expressing his gratitude for their relationship and the impact she has had on his life and all those who knew her.
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Other tributes came from an array of actors and singers such as Kylie Minogue, who called her an inspiration, and Dionne Warwick who called Newton-John “one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of recording and performing with”.
Her vast amount of fans worldwide bid farewell to Sandy as she soars into the sky in Grease Lightning throughout social media, taking them right back to their childhood days relating to teenage tribulations and wishing to be cool enough to wear a Pink Ladies jacket too.
RIP Olivia Newton John.
Hearing the news of your death transported me right back to being 13, loving Grease, thinking you were so cool, struggling to find my place in the teenage world. I hope you are resting in a palace in Xanadu. pic.twitter.com/x83DhIhMrX— Esther Gill ?? (@Esther_Gill) August 9, 2022
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Picture: @megmckibbs_ / Twitter