Beloved star Olivia Newton-John has tragically met her demise. The 73-year-old celebrity’s death has hit hard for many in the industry and her fans. Here are all the details of the pop star’s tragic passing.
Born in the United Kingdom, Olivia’s family moved to Melbourne, Australia, when she was only six. The star was the youngest among three siblings, including brother Hugh and sister Rona Newton-John. Becoming an actress like her sister, Olivia has surpassed most fellow contemporaries and become quite a legend in her own right. So here’s a look at her legacy as an actress and a musician, followed by all you need to know about her recent passing.
Her Legacy As a Singer
Olivia Newton-John’s true calling has always been singing, and the star got into it around age 14. Won a talent show on Sing, Sing, Sing and won a trip to Great Britain as a prize. This was a life-altering moment for the star as it led to the true start of her singing career. Things started to look up once Pat Carroll also landed in the U.K. The two became a performing duo called “Pat and Olivia.” Even after Carroll left the country, Olivia continued her solo career until 1975. This is the time she released three back-to-back albums, all receiving success to various degrees.
Her first international hit was the title track of her first album, If Not For You. She collaborated with iconic names such as Bob Dylan and George Harrison for the song, and the album came out in 1971. As she gained popularity in the U.K., her rising fame in the U.S. became a topic of contention among many. Her third album (second in the U.S.) Let Me Be There was categorized as country music. This bothered a few American purists since she wasn’t a native country musician. However, the album also led to many awards, wins, and nominations, including several Grammys.
The artist has since released over 20 albums and multiple hit singles. In her five-decade-long career, she has collaborated with the biggest names across the board in the music scene. Her latest album, Friends For Christmas (2016), was a special holiday collaboration with John Farnham.
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Her Acting Career
Although she may be best known for her performance in Grease (1978), the star has delivered quite some other gems throughout her career. Her debut project was the 1965 Australian telefilm Funny Things Happen Down Under. Only 17 at the time, she co-starred with her then-boyfriend Ian Turpie.
A few other memorable movies she was a part of included Xanadu (1980), Two of a Kind (1983), and Sharknado 5 (2017). However, she made a mark for herself on the television side of the industry with her appearance on various reality T.V. shows. These include Saturday Night Live, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol. An especially standout cameo can be seen in a couple of episodes of the popular series Glee.
Olivia Newton John’s Untimely Demise
Her husband of almost 15 years, John Easterling, released the news of her death. Easterling shared the update on the star’s Instagram account. The post explained that she quietly and peacefully passed away at her Ranch in South California. Easterling also informs that any material tributes should preferably be in the form of donations to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation. The foundation was created to assist and spread awareness regarding breast cancer and research on plant-based medicine to fight the disease.
Olivia’s journey with breast cancer and the activity spurred by it is inspirational for many. First diagnosed with the illness in 1992, a recent recurrence caused the star to succumb to it on the morning of August 8, 2022. Tributes celebrating her life have flowed in from various co-stars, contemporaries from the industry, and numerous fans.
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