Singer Olivia Newton-John dies
Los Angeles, Aug 8 (EFE).- Singer-songwriter Olivia Newton-John died Monday at the family’s home in Southern California, husband John Easterling said. She was 73.
“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,” Easterling wrote on social media.
Born in Cambridge, England, Newton-John was 5 when her family moved to Australia.
Olivia returned to the United Kingdom as a young woman after winning a trip to London in a talent contest on Australia and by 1971, she had embarked on a career that would see her sell more than 100 million albums.
She first made the singles’ chart with a version of Bob Dylan’s “If Not for You,” while the title track of her 1973 album “Let Me Be There” earned Newton-John her first Grammy, for best female country vocal performance.
In 1974, she picked up the record of the year and best vocal performance Grammys for “I Honestly Love You.”
Newton-John’s performance opposite John Travolta in the 1978 Hollywood musical “Grease” led to a Golden Globe nomination and her songs from the film, “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re the One That I Want” and “Summer Nights,” were smash hits.
The star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and her experience battling the illness inspired the creation of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Center in Melbourne.
The cancer remained in remission until 2017, when doctors determined that it had returned and spread.
Named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1979, Olivia Newton-John was also a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Travolta was among a number of celebrities who reacted to the news of the singer’s death.
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our 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!,” the actor said on social media. EFE romu/dr
