The pop icon shone in one of the most successful musicals of all time

She starred in one of the greatest movie musicals ever – and in a legendary fantasy flop. In her film career, singer Olivia Newton-John experienced the ups and downs of the business on fast forward. In the meantime, however, not only the hit Grease with John Travolta, but also the disaster Xanadu has cult status, also thanks to the talents of the Australian. It was announced yesterday that Olivia Newton-John has died at the age of 73 after a long illness. In moving words, John Travolta also said goodbye to the music icon.

Olivia Newton-John was one of the most successful singers of the 70’s and 80’s

Born in Great Britain, Olivia Newton-John emigrated to Australia with her family at the age of six. There she lived out her passion for music at the age of 14 in girl groups with classmates before embarking on a professional career through various television appearances. By the time she starred in the 1978 film adaptation of the Broadway musical Grease, Newton-John already had numerous number 1 hits recorded. With songs like If Not For You, I Honestly Love You and Physical, she was one of the most successful singers of the 70s and 80s and has sold over 100 million records worldwide over the course of her career.

She made her first film in the 1960s, but her third screen appearance wrote film history. In Grease she played Australian schoolgirl Sandy Olsson, who falls in love with Danny Zuko (John Travolta) while on vacation. When she transfers to an American high school, she meets the summer love she thought she had lost again. In the hit Summer Nights, the two indulge in (very different) memories of their time together.

The 1950s retro musical became a huge hit, becoming Paramount’s second highest-grossing film after The Godfather and at times holding the title of the most successful musicals of all time.

Grease was followed by a legendary flop

Grease marked the High point of Olivia Newton-John’s film career, which next suffered quite a setback. In the 1980 fantasy musical Xanadu, she starred as a mythical muse who falls in love with a young artist. The film fell through with critics and audiences. He even inspired the founder of the Golden Raspberry to create the “Award” for the worst film. Yes, and this also speaks for the status of Olivia Newton-John at that time, the soundtrack sold extremely well.

In 1983 she appeared again in front of the camera alongside John Travolta for Two of the Same Kind. In the early ’90s, just before a comeback tour, Olivia Newton-John was diagnosed with cancert. In the years that followed, she worked as an activist for cancer research as well as environmental and animal protection, she recorded more albums and made TV and independent films. One of her last roles was in the 2017 disaster comedy Sharknado 5: Global Swarming. In the same year she was diagnosed with cancer again.

On Monday her husband John Easterling announced that Olivia Newton-John had died surrounded by her family. She was 73 years old.

John Travolta’s parting words for Olivia Newton-John

In an Instagram post Colleague John Travolta said goodbye to the singerwith which he celebrated one of his greatest successes:

my dear Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your influence has been incredible. I love you so much. We will miss you in the future and will see each other again. I’m yours from the first moment I saw you and forever!
Your Danny, your John!