By: Zachary Lopez (ZachNews)
Source: John Easterling, husband of Olivia Newton-John (Information)
Images: Wikimedia Commons and Olivia Newton-John via Facebook (Courtesy)
Santa Ynez Valley, Calif. – Singer, beloved “Grease” actress and movie activist Dame Olivia Newton-John died Monday, August 8, 2022, at her ranch.
Olivia Newton-John’s husband, John Easterling, released a statement mentioning his wife’s more than three-decade battle with breast cancer, but did not specify how she died.
John Easterling’s statement was posted on social media and read: “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone respect their privacy family in these difficult times. Olivia has been a symbol of triumph and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Fund of the Olivia Newton-John Foundation, dedicated to plant medicine and cancer research.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund (ONJFoundationFund.org).”
Newton-John was one of the most popular artists in the world from 1973 where; having 14 top 10 singles in the US alone and winning 4 Grammys.
Many will remember Newton-John’s 1981 smash hit “Physical,” which spent 10 weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, longer than any other single of the 1980s.
She is also known for her role as Sandy Olsson in “Grease” alongside co-star John Travolta.
The film ‘Grease’, which was released in 1978, was one of the highest-grossing musical films of all time, grossing nearly $400 million at the box office.
‘Grease’ actor and co-star John Travolta reacted to Newton-John’s death, posting on social media: “My dear Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact it was amazing. I love you so much. We’ll see each other down the road and we’ll all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Newton-John’s recent albums include “Stronger Than Before”; a holiday collaboration with Travolta, “This Christmas” and the autobiographical “Gaia: One Woman’s Journey,” inspired by her battle with cancer and the loss of her father.
Newton-John was also passionate about the environment and animal rights.
Newton-John was awarded an OBE in 1979 and in 2019 was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, although the title Dame Olivia did not come into everyday use.
Newton-John was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2019.
Newton-John married twice; first to actor Matt Lattanzi in 1984, whom she met on the set of the film Xanadu.
The couple had a daughter, Chloe, in 1986 and divorced amicably in 1995.
Newton-John married businessman John Easterling in a spiritual Inca ceremony in 2008, and the couple bought a house on Jupiter Island, Florida, but never moved there.
The couple later bought a horse ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley outside of Santa Barbara.
Newton-John was an activist for environmental and animal rights causes, and after her first cancer diagnosis, Newton-John became a prominent activist, establishing the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Research Center in Melbourne ; his prominence as an activist for research and better treatment will likely remain a key element of his legacy as his career in entertainment.
In September 2018, Newton-John revealed that she was dealing with cancer at the base of her spine and that it was her third cancer diagnosis, following bouts with breast cancer in the early 1990s and in 2017.
Newton-John is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall.
ZachNews and the people of the tri-state Colorado River communities send our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Dame Olivia Newton-John.
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