Famed actress and singer Olivia Newton-John has passed away at the age of 73, according to TMZ.
The Grease star has battled breast cancer for the past 30 years of her life, and her husband, John Easterling, shares that she passed away at their ranch in Southern California peacefully.
The family shared in a statement that she:
“has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.”
The British born, but Australian raised star made it big time with her 1971 hit song “If Not for You,” her 1973 hit “Let Me Be There,” and “Have You Never Been Mellow.”
Of course, she is most notable for her role as Sandy, alongside John Travolta in Grease back in 1978, with a number of hit songs coming from the track list like “You’re the One that I Want,” “Summer Nights,” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”
The helped put her on the map worldwide, and followed it up with the movie Xanadu.
Her biggest hit song was “Physical” in 1981, which stayed at number one for 10 weeks, breaking every record in the ’80s.
In the country music world, Newton-John won a Grammy for Best Country Female and an Academy of Country Music Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist in 193, and then the 1974 Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMA Awards.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, but went into remission, and it came back in 2013. It went back into remission again, but resurfaced in 2017.
Her husband released the following statement to her Instagram:
“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.
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. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton John Foundation.
Olivia 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.
– via John Easterling, husband, Olivia Newton-John.”
RIP.
