British-born Australian singer and actress, Dame Olivia Newton-John, has died at the age of 73.
In a statement by her husband, John Easterling, he said the Grammy Award-winning actress “passed away peacefully” at her ranch in southern California surrounded by family and friends.
Easterling went on to describe Newton-John as 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,” he added.
She is survived by her husband, daughter Chloe Lattanzi, sister Sarah Newton-John, brother Toby Newton-John, and her nieces and nephews.
Tributes are flowing for the performer who was best known for starring as Sandy from Grease alongside John Travolta, and a string of hit albums in the 1970s and 1980s. Newton-John also played the immortal and beautiful Greek muse, Terpsichore, in the 1980 film ‘Xanadu.’
Travolta was among the first to leave a tribute on Instagram.
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much,” he wrote in the post.
“We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, also expressed his sadness at the news.
“This is really sad news. Really sad. A great Australian woman. And a great advocate for global cancer research. Taken from her family far too early. Vale Olivia,” he said.
More to come.
