AUSTRALIAN pop music star and ‘Grease’ star, Olivia Newton-John, has died at the age of 73.
The singer revealed she was undergoing cancer treatment at the base of her spine in September 2018.
This was her third cancer diagnosis, following bouts with breast cancer in 1992 and in 2017.
Her death was announced by her husband, John Easterling on her official Facebook page. According to him, she passed away peacefully on the morning of August 8 at her ranch in Southern California, surrounded by family and friends.
Part of his statement reads, “Dame Olivia Newton-John passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time. Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years, sharing her journey with breast cancer.”
Olivia Newton-John dominated the pop scene in the 1970s and ’80s. She was born in Cambridge, England in 1948, and immigrated to Melbourne, Australia, with her family at six years old. Her pop career began in her teens on Australian TV shows and singing competitions, but she did not start her career as a recording artist until she released her first single in the U.K. in 1966.
In 1974, she was named the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year, beating out Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. She reached a new height of stardom when she co-starred opposite John Travolta in 1978’s “Grease,” arguably the most popular movie musical of all time. She was nominated for a Golden Globe, the soundtrack was a Billboard chart topper, and her solo number, “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” was nominated for an Academy Award.
Furthermore, she helped found the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in 2008 and was awarded a dame hood by the queen in 2020. Newton-John is survived by her husband and daughter, as well as her siblings, nieces, and nephews.
CNN
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