Who was Olivia Newton-John?

Olivia Newton-John, a British-born Australian-raised singer who won the Grammy Awards four times, died August 8, 2022 at the age of 73.

The top female pop vocalist of the 1970s was diagnosed with breast cancer that resurfaced in 2017. The singer’s husband John Easterling posted the news on her official Facebook page, writing:

“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 please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

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“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,” her husband wrote.

Newton-John has five number-one hits and another ten top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and two Billboard 200 number-one albums, If You Love Me, Let Me Know (1974) and Have You Never Been Mellow (1975).

Eleven of her singles (including two Platinum) and 14 of her albums (including two Platinum and four 2× Platinum) have been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In 1978, she starred in the musical film Grease, whose soundtrack remains one of the world’s best-selling albums of recorded music.

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Her signature solo recordings include the Record of the Year Grammy winner “I Honestly Love You” (1974) and “Physical” (1981) – Billboard’s Top Hot 100 Single of the 1980s. 

Newton-John was an activist for environmental and animal rights issues.

In 1968, Newton-John was engaged to but never married Bruce Welch. In 1972, Newton-John ended her relationship with Welch, who subsequently attempted suicide.

In 1973, while vacationing on the French Riviera, Newton-John met British businessman Lee Kramer, who became both her new boyfriend and manager. Kramer died in 2017.

Newton-John married her long-time, live-in boyfriend, actor Matt Lattanzi, in December 1984. They divorced amicably in 1995.

Their daughter, Chloe Rose, was born in January 1986.

Newton-John met gaffer/cameraman Patrick McDermott a year after her 1995 divorce from Matt Lattanzi. The couple dated on and off for nine years.

Newton-John married John Easterling, founder and president of the Amazon Herb Company, in an Incan spiritual ceremony in Peru on 21 June 2008.