Olivia Newton-John had more than just grease

Fhas been running on thebeach since the opening scene of GreaseOlivia Newton Johnwho kissed John Travolta in silhouette against the setting sun was always best remembered as Sandy Olson. Released in June 1978, the film was an instant hit and quickly became the highest-grossing screen his musical of the era. Newton-John's performance of "Desperately Dedicated To You" earned an Oscar nomination, but her image breathing in blond curls was "Tell me about it, stud" and stomping cigarettes in red high heels. , "You're The One That I Want" ignited the public's imagination. You couldn't ask for a clearer vision of adolescent sexual awakening and teenage rebellion.

Butshe died of breast cancer at the age of 73.Newton-John had more than her most iconic role. Born in Cambridge on September 26, 1948, her father Brynn Her Newton John worked for the Enigma Project in Bletchley Park and during World War II Nazi Deputy Führer Rudolf She took into custody her Hess. was an MI5 officer. Her mother, Irene, the daughter of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Max Born, fled to England to escape the Nazi regime.

In 1954, when John Newton was six years old, her family moved to Melbourne, Australia. She developed a love of performing while still in her teens, appearing in the television talent contest Sing, Sing, Sing in 1965 and singing Burt Bacharach's "Anyone Who Had A Heart". and a version of Stephen Sondheim's "Everything's Coming Up." rose". She won the contest and received a trip to England as her prize.

It was in London that Newton-John recorded her debut single, "Till You Say You Rub Mine", which was released in 1966 with little fanfare. A few years later, she released her debut album title her track, a cover of Bob Dylan's "If Not For You". On that record, Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee," The Band's "In a Station," and Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind." , Newton-John's extensive interpretation of the country and folk songs she loved.

Newton-John, who made a name for herself as a folk singer, was also proficient in pop when she was selected to represent Great Britain at the Eurovision Song. I have proved that there is 1974 contest. She found success with her song "Long Live Love" being chosen by the British public, but eventually lost to ABBA's unstoppable "Waterloo" in a contest in Brighton. Later that year, Newton-John released "I honestly love you". It became her first number one hit in the United States and was her signature song until at least Grease.

Her 1978 appearance Greasecatapulted Newton Her John to superstardom while at the same time radically changing her image. Newton-John's next albumTotally Hotadopted a rock'n'roll sound, and she appeared on the cover in black leather. Her 1981 follow-up Physicalwas more successful than ever, with the title track her track topping charts around the world. Released just months after the start of MTV, Newton-John pioneered a new field of music television by recording videos for every song on her record, and her groundbreaking video for her album. It won a Grammy Award.

Shortly after the release of the Greatest Hits compilation Back to Basics in 1992, Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She received the news the same weekend her father died, forcing her to cancel all promotion for her album and the accompanying tour.She recovered, but her cancer left her It recurred in 2013 and again in 2017.

Newton-John, who spent years battling the painful effects of her cancer and the surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation that came with it, became a dedicated physician. She is an advocate for medical cannabis. She was introduced by her husband, John Easterling, who grows plants on his ranch in California.Newton-John's daughter, Chloe Rattanzi, also owns a cannabis farm in Oregon. In 2007, Easterling introduced Newton-John to a powerful psychedelic beer ayahuasca. They married in Cusco, Peru the following year. "It changed my life," Newton-Johnshe told The Guardian in 2020. When I was under its influence, I saw the most incredible visions. It was amazing.

Through her psychedelic experiences, Newton-John realized she could connect with important figures from her past. In, he wrote that he wanted to call on the late singers Karen Carpenter and John Denver as his "spirit guides." Both were her friends before they died and found them reassuring her before the concert.

In 2019, Newton-John told CBS News "You have to think about it. I mean, it's part of life," she said. "But I'm trying not to think too much about it. I'm trying to mediate and be peaceful about it, and I know everyone I love will be there, so I'm looking forward to it.