Our summer nights have grown a little colder since the tragic passing of beloved singer/actress, Olivia Newtown-John . After a decades-long battle with cancer, Olivia passed peacefully, surrounded by friends and family.
Her life and legacy touched millions all over the world , arguably none more so than her Grease co-star, John Travolta. Now, as a means to honor her everlasting memory, let’s take a look inside Olivia and John’s iconic friendship .
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The entertainment world is still reeling from the tragic loss of singer/actress, Olivia Newtown-John.
On Monday, August 8th, 2022, Olivia’s husband, John Easterling, informed her friends and followers that Olivia had passed away in the early morning, surrounded by family.
“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer,” John wrote via Olivia’s official Instagram.
“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund , dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.”
Olivia revealed in September of 2018 that she was battling cancer at the base of her spine.
This was Olivia’s third cancer diagnosis , after successfully overcoming bouts of breast cancer in the early ’90s and then again in 2017.
Olivia’s life and legacy touched millions of people all over the world, arguably none more so than John Travolta.
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better,” John wrote via Instagram. “Your impact was incredible. I love you so much .”
Olivia and John first met on the set of ‘Grease’ more than 44 years ago.
During the 40th anniversary celebration, Travolta was asked by E! News to name his favorite memory from that time. “Meeting Olivia,” John replied, ” beyond a shadow of a doubt .”
“I’d have to say the same,” Olivia chimed in, “because John talked me into doing it.”
Although Olivia was already a certified pop star, thanks to a myriad of country and soft-rock hit singles, she had little to no acting experience at the time.
Despite her lack of a resume, the chemistry between the two co-stars was palpable.
Grease positively soared at the box office and became the top-grossing movie of 1978. It endures to this day as one of the greatest movie musicals of all time.
Then in 1983, John and Olivia reunited for the romantic crime caper, ‘Two Of A Kind’.
Although the film was heartfelt and endearing in its own right, it failed to capture the electric chemistry that audiences bore witness to in Grease.
In the decades that followed, John and Olivia remained close, carving out a lifelong enduring friendship.
Olivia told People back in 2018 that John always has and continues to reach out to her during the good times — and especially through the bad.
“When you share that kind of meteoric success — and nothing has been able to exceed it — you share a bond,” Travolta explained.
“I’ve been through her having a child, getting divorced, losing her sister. She’s been through my getting married; having children. It’s wonderful and full of shared memories ,” he said.
After Olivia confirmed that her cancer had metastasized in her sacrum, Travolta passed along his support during the premiere of ‘The Fanatic’.
” She looks incredible ,” John emphatically told Entertainment Tonight . “She doesn’t look any different than years ago, and I’m very proud of her.”
When John lost his wife, Kelly Preston, to breast cancer in 2020, Olivia became a shoulder to lean on.
While appearing on the PEOPLE TV show, Olivia confirmed that John was doing ” as well as it can be expected when you just lost your love, your wife, and the mother of your children.”
Olivia made sure to mention how she remembered Kelly as a “radiant, beautiful light in the world.”
In fact, it was the tragic passing of Kelly Preston that served as the inspiration for Olivia to found the Olivia Newton-John Foundation.
Olivia told ‘PEOPLE’ how Kelly’s death “really strengthened my resolve.”
“Because I’ve lost way too many friends to cancer, family members, and friends. Having lived with it, this is my dream . This is my passion to see a world beyond cancer.”
Although Olivia didn’t get to see her dream come to fruition, her legacy lives on to continue the fight.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by cancer and you’d like to join in Olivia’s quest, you can make a donation to the Olivia Newtown John Foundation, here .
