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Olivia Newton John

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Olivia Newton-John



 
 
Olivia Newton-John AO
Order of Australia

The Order of Australia is an Order established by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Australia on 14 February 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"....
, OBE
Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a United Kingdom order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom....
 (born 26 September 1948 in Cambridge
Cambridge

The city status in the United Kingdom of Cambridge is a College town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies about 50 miles north of London....
, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
) is an English-born
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
, Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
n singer and actress
Actor

An actor or actress is a person who acting in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio programming in that capacity....
. She is an avid activist for both environmental
Environmentalism

Environmentalism is a broad philosophy and social movement centered on a concern for the Conservation movement and improvement of the environment ....
 issues and breast cancer
Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the Cell of the breast in women and men. Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer death....
 awareness. Her business interests have included launching several product lines for Koala Blue and opening the Gaia Retreat and Spa in Australia. To date she has sold over 100 million records.

ia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England, to a Welsh-born father, Brinley ("Bryn") Newton-John, and a German-born mother, Irene Born.






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Olivia Newton-John AO
Order of Australia

The Order of Australia is an Order established by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Australia on 14 February 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"....
, OBE
Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a United Kingdom order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom....
 (born 26 September 1948 in Cambridge
Cambridge

The city status in the United Kingdom of Cambridge is a College town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies about 50 miles north of London....
, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
) is an English-born
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
, Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
n singer and actress
Actor

An actor or actress is a person who acting in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio programming in that capacity....
. She is an avid activist for both environmental
Environmentalism

Environmentalism is a broad philosophy and social movement centered on a concern for the Conservation movement and improvement of the environment ....
 issues and breast cancer
Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the Cell of the breast in women and men. Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer death....
 awareness. Her business interests have included launching several product lines for Koala Blue and opening the Gaia Retreat and Spa in Australia. To date she has sold over 100 million records.

Early life

Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England, to a Welsh-born father, Brinley ("Bryn") Newton-John, and a German-born mother, Irene Born. Newton-John is the youngest of three children, following brother Hugh, a doctor, and sister Rona, an actress once married to Grease co-star Jeff Conaway
Jeff Conaway

Jeff Conaway is an United States actor, best known for his roles as Kenickie in the 1978 motion picture musical Grease , out-of-work actor Bobby Wheeler in the TV series Taxi and Sergeant later security chief Zack Allan in Babylon 5....
. Newton-John's mother was the eldest child of Max Born
Max Born

Max Born was a Germany physicist and mathematician who was instrumental in the development of quantum mechanics. He also made contributions to solid-state physics and optics and supervised the work of a number of notable physicists in the 1920s and 30s....
, a German Nobel prize–winning physicist. Newton-John's father was an MI5 officer on the Enigma
Enigma machine

The Enigma machine is any of a family of related electro-mechanical rotor machines that have been used to generate ciphers for the encryption and decryption of secret messages....
 project at Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park, also known as Station X, is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire. Since 1967, Bletchley has been part of Milton Keynes, England....
 and was the officer who took Rudolph Hess into custody during World War II. Newton-John's family emigrated in 1954 to Melbourne, Australia, where her father worked as a Professor of German and became the Master of Ormond College
Ormond College (University of Melbourne)

Ormond College is the largest of the university colleges of the University of Melbourne. It is home to about 330 undergraduate, postgraduate and professorial/academic residents....
 at the University of Melbourne.

Career


Beginnings

At 14, Newton-John formed a short-lived all-girl band, Sol Four, with three classmates and often performed in a coffee shop owned by her brother-in-law. She soon became a regular on local Australian radio and television shows including HSV-7's The Happy Show, where she performed as Lovely Livvy. She also appeared on the Go Show, where she met her lifelong friends Pat Carroll
Pat Carroll (singer)

Pat Carroll is an Australian singer from the 1960s.Carroll began her entertainment career at age eight when she started taking singing and dancing lessons....
 and John Farrar
John Farrar

John Farrar , born on 8 November 1946 in Melbourne Australia, is a Record producer, songwriter, singer and guitarist who is best known for his work with Olivia Newton-John with whom he wrote and produced many hit songs....
. (Carroll and Farrar eventually married.) She entered a talent contest on the television program Sing, Sing, Sing
Sing, Sing, Sing

"Sing, Sing, Sing " is a 1936 song, written by Louis Prima, strongly identified with the big band and swing eras. Although written by Prima, it is often most associated with Benny Goodman....
,
hosted by 1960s Australian icon Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe

John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s and ended with his early death in the late 1970s....
, performing the songs "Anyone Who Had A Heart" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses." She won the contest and received a trip to England as the prize. Initially, she was reluctant to go, but her mother encouraged her to broaden her horizons.

Newton-John recorded her first single, "Till You Say You'll Be Mine" b/w "Forever," for England's Decca Records
Decca Records

Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 in music by Edward Lewis . Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
 in 1966. Newton-John was homesick in England because she missed Australia and her then-boyfriend, Ian Turpie
Ian Turpie

Ian "Turps" Turpie is an Australian television celebrity, best known for hosting the long-running game show The Price Is Right before being replaced by Larry Emdur....
, with whom she co-starred in an independently produced Australian telefilm, Funny Things Happen Down Under. Her mother cancelled trips back to Australia that Newton-John would repeatedly book. Newton-John's outlook changed when Pat Carroll also moved to England. The two formed a duo and toured nightclubs in Europe until Carroll's visa expired, forcing her to return to Australia. Newton-John remained in England to pursue solo work.

Newton-John was recruited for the group "Toomorrow" — the brainchild of American producer Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner

Don Kirshner , known as The Man With the Golden Ear, is an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups such as The Monkees and The Archies....
, creator of The Monkees
The Monkees

The Monkees were a pop singing quartet assembled in Los Angeles in 1965 in music for the United States television series The Monkees , which aired from 1966 to 1968....
. In 1970, the group recorded an eponymous album and starred in a "science fiction musical" film also named after the group. The project failed and the group was quickly disbanded.

1971–1977

Newton-John released her first solo album, If Not For You, in 1971. The title track
If Not for You

"'If Not for You'" is a 1970 song by Bob Dylan featured on his album New Morning. The song also appears on the compilation album Biograph as well as Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol....
, written by Bob Dylan, was her first international hit (No. 25 Pop, No. 1 Adult Contemporary [hereafter AC]). Her follow-up, "Banks of the Ohio
Banks of the Ohio

"'Banks of the Ohio'" is a 19th century murder ballad, written by unknown authors, in which "Willie" invites his young lover for a walk during which she rejects his marriage proposal....
," was a Top 10 hit in England and Australia, but faltered in the U.S. (No. 94 Pop, No. 34 AC). She was voted Best British Female Vocalist two years in a row by the magazine Record Mirror
Record Mirror

Record Mirror was a national tabloid consumer weekly pop music newspaper founded by Isadore Green in 1953, featuring news articles, interviews, record charts, record and concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs....
.
She made frequent appearances on Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard Order of the British Empire is an England singer-songwriter, actor and entrepreneur.With his backing group The Shadows, Richard dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before and during The Beatles' first year in the charts....
's weekly show It's Cliff Richard and starred with him in the telefilm The Case. In the United States, Newton-John's career foundered after If Not For You until the release of "Let Me Be There
Let Me Be There

"Let Me Be There" is a popular song written by John Rostill. It was first recorded by Olivia Newton-John in 1973 and included on her Let Me Be There ....
" in 1973. The song reached the American Top 10 on the Pop (No. 6), Country (No. 7), and AC (No. 3) charts and earned her a Grammy for Best Country Female and an Academy of Country Music award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. The song also propelled the album Let Me Be There to No. 1 on the Country Albums chart for two weeks.

In 1974, Newton-John represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition....
 with the song, "Long Live Love
Long Live Love

Long Live Love is an album recorded by Olivia Newton-John, released in 1974 on EMI ....
." The song was chosen for her by the British public. Newton-John placed fourth at the contest in Brighton
Brighton

Brighton is a city on the south coast of England and, with its neighbours Hove and Portslade, forms the Brighton and Hove.The ancient settlement of Brighthelmston dates from before the Domesday Book , but it emerged as a health resort during the 18th Century and became a destination for day-trippers after the arrival of the railway in...
 behind ABBA
ABBA

ABBA were a Sweden pop music group. The band consisted of Agnetha F?ltskog, Benny Andersson, Bj?rn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad . They topped the charts worldwide from the mid-1970s in music to the early 1980s in music....
's winning "Waterloo." (Newton-John would later admit that she disliked the song.) All six song candidates for the contest were recorded by Newton-John and included on her Long Live Love album, her first for the EMI label. In North America, this album was released by MCA as If You Love Me, Let Me Know
If You Love Me, Let Me Know

If You Love Me, Let Me Know was a United States and Canada-only album by singer Olivia Newton-John, released in 1974....
,
with the six Eurovision songs dropped for four different, more-country-oriented tracks to capitalize on the success of "Let Me Be There
Let Me Be There

"Let Me Be There" is a popular song written by John Rostill. It was first recorded by Olivia Newton-John in 1973 and included on her Let Me Be There ....
." The title track was the first single, reaching No. 5 Pop, No. 2 Country (her best country placement ever), and No. 2 AC. The next single, "I Honestly Love You
I Honestly Love You

"I Honestly Love You" was a worldwide pop music hit single for Olivia Newton-John in 1974. The song was Newton-John's first number-one single in the United States and Canada, thus cementing her as a household name in North America....
," became Newton-John's signature song. Written by Jeff Barry
Jeff Barry

Jeff Barry is an United States popular music songwriter, singer, and record producer.Barry was born Joel Adelberg in Brooklyn, New York City....
 and Peter Allen
Peter Allen

Peter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, Elkie Brooks, and one, Arthur's Theme, won the Academy Award....
, the ballad became her first No. 1 Pop (two weeks) and second No. 1 AC (three weeks) hit and earned Newton-John two more Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Female. The success of both singles helped the album reach No. 1 on both the Pop (one week) and Country (eight weeks) Albums charts.

Newton-John's country success was reviled by purists who believed a foreigner singing country-flavored pop music did not belong in country music. In addition to her Grammy for "Let Me Be There," Newton-John was also named the Country Music Association
Country Music Association

The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre....
 Female Vocalist of the Year in 1974, defeating nominees Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn is an United States country music singer-songwriter; she was one of the leading country vocalists and songwriters during the 1960s and 1970s and is revered as a country icon....
, Canadian Anne Murray
Anne Murray

Anne Murray, Order of Canada, Order of Nova Scotia is a Canada singer. Murray has performed in Pop Music, Country Music and Adult Contemporary styles....
, Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton

Dolly Rebecca Parton is a Grammy Award-winning United Statesn singer-songwriter, author, actress and philanthropist, known for her prolific work in country music....
, and Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker

Tanya Denise Tucker is an American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature into adulthood without losing her audience, and during the course of her career, she notched a streak of Top Ten and Top 40 hits....
. Newton-John's win outraged many country artists leading to the formation of the short-lived Association of Country Entertainers (ACE). Newton-John was eventually supported by most in the country music community. Stella Parton
Stella Parton

Stella Parton is an United States Country Music singer and songwriter. She is the sister of country music icon Dolly Parton and businessman Randy Parton....
, Dolly's sister, recorded "Ode To Olivia" and Newton-John recorded her 1976 album Don't Stop Believin'
Don't Stop Believin' (Olivia Newton-John album)

Don't Stop Believin' was an album by Olivia Newton-John, released in 1976. The album was certified gold and peaked at No. 33 - Pop and No. 7 - Country....
,
in Nashville.

Encouraged by expatriate
Expatriate

An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently Residency in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence....
 Australian singer Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy

Helen Reddy is an Australian/American singer-songwriter. She has won a Grammy Award, been a theatrical stage performer appearing on Broadway theatre, an actress in feature films and credited with writing and singing one of the most iconic and culturally significant songs of the 1970s, "I Am Woman"....
, Newton-John left England and moved to the United States. Newton-John topped the Pop (one week) and Country (six weeks) Albums charts with her next album, Have You Never Been Mellow
Have You Never Been Mellow

Have You Never Been Mellow was an album by Olivia Newton-John, released in 1975....
.
The album generated two singles — the title track (No. 1 Pop, No. 3 Country, No. 1 AC) and "Please Mr. Please
Please Mr. Please

"Please Mr. Please" is the title of a popular song from 1975 by the Australia singer Olivia Newton-John. The song was written by Bruce Welch and John Rostill, both members of United Kingdom pop singer Cliff Richard's backing band, The Shadows....
" (No. 3 Pop, No. 5 Country, No. 1 AC). Newton-John's pop career cooled with the release of her next album, Clearly Love
Clearly Love

Clearly Love was an album by Olivia Newton-John, released in 1975....
.
Her streak of five consecutive gold Top 10 singles ended when the album's first single, "Something Better To Do," stopped at No. 13 (also No. 19 Country and No. 1 AC). Although her albums still achieved gold status, she did not return to the Top 10 on the Hot 100 or Pop Albums charts again until 1978.

Newton-John's singles continued to easily top the AC chart, where she ultimately amassed ten No. 1 singles including a record seven consecutively:

  • "I Honestly Love You
    I Honestly Love You

    "I Honestly Love You" was a worldwide pop music hit single for Olivia Newton-John in 1974. The song was Newton-John's first number-one single in the United States and Canada, thus cementing her as a household name in North America....
    " (1974) – 3 weeks
  • "Have You Never Been Mellow
    Have You Never Been Mellow (song)

    "Have You Never Been Mellow" is a popular song written by John Farrar and recorded by Olivia Newton-John as the title track for her album of the same name....
    " (1975) – 1 week
  • "Please Mr. Please
    Please Mr. Please

    "Please Mr. Please" is the title of a popular song from 1975 by the Australia singer Olivia Newton-John. The song was written by Bruce Welch and John Rostill, both members of United Kingdom pop singer Cliff Richard's backing band, The Shadows....
    " (1975) – 3 weeks
  • "Something Better To Do" (1975) – 3 weeks
  • "Let It Shine/He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother" (1976) – 2 weeks
  • "Come On Over" (1976) – 1 week
  • "Don't Stop Believin'" (1976) – 1 week


She also provided a prominent, but uncredited, vocal on John Denver
John Denver

John Denver , born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., was an United States Country Music/folk music singer-songwriter and folk rock musician. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the 1970s in terms of record sales, recording and releasing around 300 songs, of which about half were composed by him....
's "Fly Away
Fly Away (John Denver song)

"Fly Away" is a 1975 song written and performed by John Denver, with Olivia Newton-John on backup vocals. Released as a single from the Windsong album, "Fly Away" peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1976....
" single, which was succeeded by her own single, "Let It Shine/He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother," at No. 1 on the AC chart. Newton-John also continued to reach the Country Top 10 where she tallied seven Top 10 singles through 1976's "Come On Over" (No. 23 Pop, No. 5 Country, No. 1 AC) and six consecutive (of a career nine total) Top 10 albums through 1976's Don't Stop Believin (No. 30 Pop, No. 7 Country). She headlined her first U.S. television special, A Special Olivia Newton-John, in November 1976.

By mid-1977, Newton-John's AC and country success also began to wane. Her
Making a Good Thing Better
Making A Good Thing Better

Making a Good Thing Better is an album by Olivia Newton-John, released 1977....
album (No. 34 Pop, No. 13 Country) failed to be certified gold, and its only single, the title track, did not reach even the AC Top 10 or the Country chart. Although the release that same year of Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits
Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits

Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits was an album by Olivia Newton-John, released in 1977, including her hits released from 1971 to 1977. "Changes" was the only track not released as a single, but it was one of Newton-John's first recorded, self-written songs....
(No. 13 Pop, No. 7 Country) became her first platinum album, Newton-John was ready to move her career in new directions.

1978–1979

Newton-John's career soared after starring in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical
Grease
Grease (film)

Grease is a musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Jim Jacobs' and Warren Casey's Grease . The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, and Eve Arden....
in 1978. She was offered the lead role of Sandy after a chance meeting with producer Allan Carr
Allan Carr

Allan Carr was an United States producer and Management of theatre and film. Carr was nominated for numerous awards, winning a Tony Award and two People's Choice Awards, and was named Producer of the Year by the National Association of Theatre Owners....
 at a dinner party held by Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy

Helen Reddy is an Australian/American singer-songwriter. She has won a Grammy Award, been a theatrical stage performer appearing on Broadway theatre, an actress in feature films and credited with writing and singing one of the most iconic and culturally significant songs of the 1970s, "I Am Woman"....
 in her Los Angeles home. Burned by her Toomorrow
Toomorrow

Toomorrow is the soundtrack from Australian singer Olivia Newton-John's 1970 film Toomorrow , and also her first major release album. The film was a sci-fi musical mix directed by Val Guest and was Newton-John's second movie....
 experience and concerned that she was too old to play a high school senior (she turned 29 during the later 1977 filming), Newton-John insisted on a screen test with the film's co-star, John Travolta
John Travolta

John Joseph Travolta is a two-time Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning United States actor, dancer and singer, best known for his leading roles in films such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Pulp Fiction ....
. The film accommodated Newton-John's Australian accent by recasting her character from the play's original American Sandy Dumbrowski to Sandy Olsson, an Australian who vacations and then moves with her family to the United States.

The release of the film was preceded one month by the telecast of Newton-John's second television special,
Olivia. Grease
Grease (film)

Grease is a musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Jim Jacobs' and Warren Casey's Grease . The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, and Eve Arden....
became the biggest box-office hit of 1978 and remained popular enough that it was re-released in theaters on its 20th anniversary in 1998. The soundtrack spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 and yielded three Top 5 singles for Newton-John: the No. 1 "You're The One That I Want
You're the One That I Want

"You're the One That I Want" is a song written by John Farrar for the 1978 in film Grease of the musical Grease . It was performed by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John....
" (with John Travolta), the No. 3 "Hopelessly Devoted To You
Hopelessly Devoted to You

"Hopelessly Devoted to You", written by John Farrar, is a song originally performed by Olivia Newton-John. The song, featured in the film version of Grease , received an Oscar nomination as Academy Award for Best Original Song, losing to "Last Dance " at the 51st Academy Awards....
," and the No. 5 "Summer Nights
Summer Nights

"Summer Nights" is a popular song made famous by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.Written by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs, "Summer Nights" was one of the stand out songs from the musical Grease ....
" (with John Travolta and the film's cast).The former two songs were written by Newton-John's long-time producer, John Farrar
John Farrar

John Farrar , born on 8 November 1946 in Melbourne Australia, is a Record producer, songwriter, singer and guitarist who is best known for his work with Olivia Newton-John with whom he wrote and produced many hit songs....
, specifically for the film. Newton-John became the second female (after Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt

Maria Linda Ronstadt , known as Linda Ronstadt, is an United States popular music Singing and entertainer whose vocal styles in a variety of genres have resonated with the general public over the course of her four-decade career....
 in 1977) to have two singles — "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Summer Nights" — in the Billboard Top 5 simultaneously. Newton-John's performance earned her a People's Choice award for Favorite Motion Picture Actress. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actress in a Musical and performed the Oscar-nominated "Hopelessly Devoted To You" at the 1979 Academy Awards
Academy Awards

The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers....
. To this day, the soundtrack still sells several thousand copies per week and often appears on Billboard
Billboard

Billboard is a weekly United States magazine devoted to the music industry. It maintains several internationally recognized Record chart that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis....
's Soundtracks chart.

Newton-John's transformation in the film from goody-goody "Sandy 1" to spandex-clad
Spandex

Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity . It is stronger and more durable than rubber, its major non-synthetic competitor....
 "Sandy 2" emboldened Newton-John to do the same with her music career. In November 1978, she released the pop album
Totally Hot
Totally Hot

Totally Hot is an album by the Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. Released in November 1978, it was her first album following the global success of the film Grease earlier that year which had made Newton-John an international superstar....
, which became her first solo Top 10 (No. 7) album since Have You Never Been Mellow. Dressed on the cover all in leather, the album's singles "A Little More Love" (No. 3 Pop, No. 94 Country, No. 4 AC), "Deeper Than The Night" (No. 11 Pop, No. 87 Country, No. 4 AC), and the title track (No. 52 Pop) all demonstrated a more aggressive and more uptempo sound for Newton-John. Although the album clearly de-emphasized country, it still reached No. 4 on the Country Albums chart. Newton-John released the B-side, "Dancin' 'Round And 'Round," of the "Totally Hot" single to Country radio, where it peaked at No. 29 (as well as No. 82 Pop and No. 25 AC), becoming her last charted solo Country airplay single to date.

1980s

Newton-John began 1980 by releasing
I Can't Help It (No. 12 Pop, No. 8 AC), a duet with Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb

Andy Gibb was an England singer and teen idol, and the youngest brother of Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb, also known as the Bee Gees....
 from his
After Dark album, and by starring in her third television special, Hollywood Nights. Later that year, she appeared in her first film since Grease starring in the musical Xanadu
Xanadu (film)

Xanadu is a 1980 in film musical film/romance film directed by Robert Greenwald. It is an unofficial remake of the 1947 film Down to Earth starring Rita Hayworth....
with Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly

Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an United States dancer, actor, singer, film director, Film producer, and choreographer.A major exponent of 20th century filmed dance, Kelly was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style, his good looks and the likeable characters that he played on screen....
 and Michael Beck
Michael Beck

John Michael Beck Taylor is an United States actor....
. Although the movie was a critical failure, it was ultimately profitable and its soundtrack was certified double platinum. The soundtrack (No. 4 Pop) boasted five Top 20 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including Newton-John's
Magic
Magic (Olivia Newton-John song)

"Magic" is a hit 1980 song performed by Olivia Newton-John, from the Xanadu to the film Xanadu . The song was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for four weeks, from August 2 through August 29, 1980....
(No. 1 Pop, No. 1 AC), Suddenly with Cliff Richard (No. 20 Pop, No. 4 AC), and the title-song with ELO
Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light Orchestra, commonly abbreviated ELO, were a symphonic rock group from Birmingham, England, who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001....
 (No. 8 Pop, No. 2 AC).
Magic was Newton-John's biggest Pop hit to that point (four weeks at No. 1) and still ranks as the biggest AC hit of her career (five weeks at No. 1). The film has since become a cult classic and the basis for a well-reviewed, Tony-nominated Broadway show that ran for more than 500 performances in 2007–2008.

In 1981, Newton-John released her most successful studio album, the double platinum
Physical
Physical (Olivia Newton-John album)

Physical is an album by the Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released in 1981....
. The title track, written by Steve Kipner and Terry Shaddick, spent ten weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, matching the record of most weeks at No. 1 held by Debby Boone
Debby Boone

Debby Boone is an United States singer and theater actor. She is best known for her 1977 hit "You Light Up My Life ", which spent 10 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and won her a Grammy award the following year for Best New Artist....
's
You Light Up My Life
You Light Up My Life (song)

"You Light Up My Life" is a ballad written by Joseph Brooks and originally recorded by Kasey Cisyk for the soundtrack to the You Light Up My Life....
. The single was certified platinum and it ultimately ranked as the biggest song of the decade. (In 2008, Billboard ranked the song No. 6 among all songs that charted in the 50-year history of the Hot 100.) The song even earned Newton-John her only placement ever on the R&B Singles (No. 28) and Albums (No. 32) chart. The Physical
Physical (Olivia Newton-John album)

Physical is an album by the Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released in 1981....
album spawned two more singles, Make a Move on Me
Make a Move on Me

"Make A Move On Me" is a song recorded by Olivia Newton-John....
(No. 5 Pop, No. 6 AC) and Landslide (No. 52 Pop).

To counter the overtly suggestive tone of the title track, Newton-John filmed an exercise-themed video that turned the song into an aerobics anthem (and made headbands a fashion accessory outside the gym). Newton-John became a pioneer in the nascent music video industry by recording a video album
Olivia Physical

Olivia Physical is a 1982 video collection featuring the singer Olivia Newton-John and various of her songs, most from the album Physical ....
 for
Physical featuring videos of all the album's tracks and three of her older hits. The video album earned her a fourth Grammy and was aired as an ABC prime time special, Let's Get Physical, becoming a Top 10 Nielsen hit. The success of Physical led to an international tour and the release of her second hits collection, the double platinum Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2

This was a 1982 "greatest hits" compilation from Olivia Newton-John, except that the album also contained two brand-new songs; Heart Attack and Tied Up, both of which were also published as singles....
(No. 16 Pop), which yielded two more Top 40 singles: Heart Attack (No. 3 Pop) and Tied Up (No. 38 Pop). The tour was filmed for her Olivia In Concert television special which premiered on HBO in January 1983. The special was subsequently released to video earning Newton-John another Grammy nomination. Newton-John re-teamed with Travolta in 1983 for the critically and commercially unsuccessful Two of a Kind
Two of a Kind (1983 film)

Two of a Kind is a 1983 in film romantic comedy film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The original music score was composed by Patrick Williams ....
, redeemed by its platinum soundtrack (No. 26 Pop) featuring Twist Of Fate (No. 5 Pop), Livin' In Desperate Times (No. 31 Pop), and a new duet with Travolta, Take A Chance (No. 3 AC). Newton-John released another video package, the Grammy-nominated Twist Of Fate, featuring videos of her four songs on the Two of a Kind soundtrack and the two new singles from Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2

This was a 1982 "greatest hits" compilation from Olivia Newton-John, except that the album also contained two brand-new songs; Heart Attack and Tied Up, both of which were also published as singles....
.

The same year, Newton-John and Pat Farrar founded
Koala Blue. The store was originally for Australian imports, but evolved into a chain of women's clothing boutiques. The chain was initially successful, but eventually declared bankruptcy and closed in 1992. Newton-John and Farrar would later license the brand name for a line of Australian produced wines, confections, and bed/bath products.

Newton-John married long-time boyfriend Matt Lattanzi in December 1984. The couple had met four years earlier while filming
Xanadu
Xanadu (film)

Xanadu is a 1980 in film musical film/romance film directed by Robert Greenwald. It is an unofficial remake of the 1947 film Down to Earth starring Rita Hayworth....
. (They divorced in 1995.) Newton-John resumed recording in 1985 with the release of the gold Soul Kiss (No. 29 Pop). The album's only charted single was the title track (No. 20 Pop, No. 20 AC). Newton-John's pregnancy with daughter Chloe Rose Lattanzi
Chloe Rose Lattanzi

Chloe Rose Lattanzi is an United States-born singer and actress. She was born in Los Angeles to actress and singer Olivia Newton-John who is Australian and starred alongside John Travolta in the hit Grease....
 (b. January 1986) limited her publicity for the album. The video album for
Soul Kiss featured videos of only five of the album's ten tracks, and the album's second single, Toughen Up, failed to even chart.

After a three-year hiatus to raise Chloe, Newton-John returned with 1988's
The Rumour. The album was promoted by an HBO special, Olivia Down Under, and its first single, the title track, was written and produced by Elton John
Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John Order of the British Empire is an England singer-songwriter, composer and pianist.In his four-decade career, John has been one of the dominant forces in rock and popular music, especially during the 1970s....
. Both the single (No. 62 Pop, No. 33 AC) and the album (No. 67 Pop) fizzled as the nearly 40 year-old Newton-John seemed "old" when compared with the teen queens Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
Tiffany (singer)

Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an United States singing who had a number of teen pop hits during the late-1980s. Since then she has performed in a variety of genres, from country to dance, both in America and other countries....
 ruling the charts at that time. The second single, the Sandy Linzer/Irwin Levine–penned
Can't We Talk It Over In Bed, did not chart. (Grayson Hugh, the song's arranger, subsequently released his version of the song as Talk It Over in 1989 and it became a Top 20 Pop hit.) A year later, Newton-John recorded her "self-indulgent" album, Warm and Tender
Warm and Tender (Olivia Newton-John album)

Warm and Tender is an album of children's lullabies released by Olivia Newton-John in 1989....
, featuring lullabies and love songs for parents and their children. This album also did not revive her recording career struggling to No. 124 Pop.

Breast cancer survivor and health advocate

Newton-John was primed for another comeback in 1992 when she compiled her third hits collection,
Back To Basics - The Essential Collection 1971–1992 (No. 121 Pop), and planned her first tour since her Physical trek ten years earlier. Shortly after the album's release, Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer, forcing her to cancel all publicity for the album, including the tour. (Newton-John received her diagnosis on the same weekend her father passed away.) Newton-John recovered and has since become a tireless advocate for breast cancer research and other health issues. She has been a product spokesperson for the Liv-Kit, a breast self-examination product. She is co-owner of the Gaia Retreat and Spa in Byron Bay, Australia, which is advertised as "the ideal place to renew, refresh, and restore your mind, body and soul."

Newton-John's cancer diagnosis affected the type of music she recorded. In 1994, she released
Gaia: One Woman's Journey, which chronicled her ordeal. This was the first album on which Newton-John wrote all of the songs, encouraging her to become more active as a songwriter thereafter. In 2005, she released Stronger Than Before, sold exclusively in the United States by Hallmark. Proceeds from the album's sales benefited breast cancer research. The album featured the song Phenomenal Woman based on the poem by Maya Angelou that featured guest vocals from Diahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll is an American award-winning actress and Singing....
, Beth Nielsen Chapman
Beth Nielsen Chapman

Beth Nielsen Chapman is an United States singer-songwriter, mostly known for her numerous hits recorded by Country music and pop music performers....
, Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem

Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony Music Entertainment at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the popular Australian soap Neighbours as Nina Tucker, and this assisted her in establishing an international music career....
, Amy Holland
Amy Holland

Amy Holland is a pop rock singer. Her mother was country music celebrity Esmereldy and her father was opera singer Harry Boersma. Holland's self-titled album, record producer by Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers, was released in 1980 and featured the hit "How Do I Survive", which peaked at #22 in the United States Billboard Hot 100 rec...
, Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle

Patricia Louise Holte , best known by her stage name of Patti LaBelle, is an American rhythm and blues and soul music singer-songwriter and actor....
, and Mindy Smith
Mindy Smith

Mindy Smith is an United States singer-songwriter. Her music has a broad appeal and can be classified as all of the following: folk music, country music, americana , bluegrass music, popular music, rock music, and even alternative music....
 who were all cancer survivors or whose lives were affected by the disease. The following year, Newton-John released a healing CD,
Grace And Gratitude. The album was sold exclusively by Walgreens, also benefitting various charities such as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, and was the "heart" of their "Body - Heart - Spirit" Wellness Collection. The collection also featured a re-branded Liv-Kit and breast-health dietary supplements.

In 2008, Newton-John raised funds to help build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia. She led a three-week, 228 km walk along the Great Wall of China during April joined by various celebrities and cancer survivors throughout her trek. The walk symbolized the steps cancer patients must take on their road to recovery. Newton-John released a companion CD,
A Celebration In Song, the following month in Australia and later worldwide featuring new and previously recorded duets by "Olivia Newton-John & Friends." Her "Friends" included Jann Arden
Jann Arden

Jann Arden is an acclaimed and award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born and raised near Calgary, in Springbank, Alberta, and she attended Springbank Community High School....
, Jimmy Barnes
Jimmy Barnes

Jimmy Barnes is a popular Australian rock music singer, with a unique vocal style. He was born James Dixon Swan on 28 April 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland....
, John Farrar
John Farrar

John Farrar , born on 8 November 1946 in Melbourne Australia, is a Record producer, songwriter, singer and guitarist who is best known for his work with Olivia Newton-John with whom he wrote and produced many hit songs....
, Barry Gibb
Barry Gibb

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb Order of the British Empire is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in Douglas, Isle of Man, to English parents....
, Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem

Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony Music Entertainment at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the popular Australian soap Neighbours as Nina Tucker, and this assisted her in establishing an international music career....
, Sun Ho, Richard Marx
Richard Marx

Richard Noel Marx is an adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever ", and "Hazard "....
, Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard Order of the British Empire is an England singer-songwriter, actor and entrepreneur.With his backing group The Shadows, Richard dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before and during The Beatles' first year in the charts....
, Melinda Schneider, Amy Sky
Amy Sky

Amy Sky is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer, theatre actress, and television host. Sky started classical music lessons at the age of five , and plays piano, guitar, cello and recorder....
 and Keith Urban
Keith Urban

Keith Lionel Urban is an Australian Grammy Award- and ARIA Award-winning country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States....
. In October, Newton-John helped launch the www.liv.com website and teamed with fitness franchise Curves to distribute one million Liv-Aid breast self-examination aids for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Newton-John's spirituality also extended to the release of several Christmas albums. In 2000, she teamed with Vince Gill
Vince Gill

Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an United States neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a vocalist and musician have placed him in hig...
 and the London Symphony Orchestra for
Tis The Season, sold exclusively through Hallmark. The following year, she released The Christmas Collection, which compiled seasonal music previously recorded for her Hallmark Christmas album, her appearance on Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins

Kenneth Clark "Kenny" Loggins is an United States singer and songwriter best known for a number of soft rock and adult contemporary hit singles beginning in the 1970s....
' 1999 TNN Christmas special, and her contributions to the Mother And Child and Spirit Of Christmas multi-artist collections. In 2007, she re-teamed with her Grace And Gratitude producer, Amy Sky
Amy Sky

Amy Sky is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer, theatre actress, and television host. Sky started classical music lessons at the age of five , and plays piano, guitar, cello and recorder....
, for Christmas Wish (No. 187 Pop), which was sold exclusively by Target.

Later career

Newton-John's spiritual, contemplative music was complemented by her pop-oriented releases. In 1998, she returned to Nashville to record Back With A Heart
Back with a Heart

Back With a Heart is an album released by Olivia Newton-John in 1998....
 (No. 59 Pop). The album returned her to the Top 10 (No. 9) on the Country Albums chart. Its only single was a remake of I Honestly Love You
I Honestly Love You

"I Honestly Love You" was a worldwide pop music hit single for Olivia Newton-John in 1974. The song was Newton-John's first number-one single in the United States and Canada, thus cementing her as a household name in North America....
 produced by David Foster
David Foster

David Walter Foster, Order of Canada, Order of British Columbia, Doctor of Laws is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer-songwriter and arrangement.....
 and featuring Babyface on background vocals that charted Pop (No. 67) and AC (No. 18). Country radio dismissed the song, although it did peak at No. 16 on the Country Sales chart. The album track, Love Is A Gift, won Newton-John a 1999 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song after being featured on the daytime serial, As The World Turns
As the World Turns

As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that airs each weekday on CBS.Set in the fictional town of Oakdale , the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956 at 1:30pm Eastern Time Zone....
.

Newton-John's subsequent albums were all released primarily in Australia. Newton-John, John Farnham
John Farnham

John Peter Farnham, Order of Australia is an English people-born Australian Pop music singer who performed as Teen idol, Johnny Farnham, from 1964–1979 and then as Adult Contemporary singer John Farnham....
 and Anthony Warlow
Anthony Warlow

Anthony Warlow is an Australian opera and musical theatre performer, noted for his character acting and immense vocal range .Anthony Warlow has been married to Celia for several years, and they have a daughter, Phoebe Rose....
 toured Australia as The Main Event
The Main Event (concert tour)

The Main Event Tour is the debut concert tour by Australia singers John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow....
. The live album won an ARIA Award
ARIA Music Awards

The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual awards night celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Record Industry Association ....
 for Highest Selling Australian CD and was also nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album. She and Farnham performed Dare To Dream at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics

The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 13 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. In 2002, Newton-John released (2), a duets album featuring mostly Australian artists including Darren Hayes
Darren Hayes

Darren Stanley Hayes is an Australian singer-songwriter. Hayes debuted in 1996 as the frontman and singer of the Pop music duo Savage Garden, whose 1997 album Savage Garden propelled them to stardom....
, Tina Arena
Tina Arena

Tina Arena is an Australian singer, songwriter and musical theatre actress. Over her long career in the entertainment industry she has won numerous awards, most notably 5 ARIA Music Awards and in both 1996 and 2000 she received the World Music Awards for the world's best selling Australian artist....
, Jimmy Little, Billy Thorpe and Johnny O'Keefe as well as a heartfelt "duet" with the deceased Peter Allen
Peter Allen

Peter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, Elkie Brooks, and one, Arthur's Theme, won the Academy Award....
. The same year, Newton-John was inducted into Australia's ARIA Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame

Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted under the old format due to time restric...
. 2004 brought the release of Indigo: Women of Song, a tribute album covering songs by The Carpenters
The Carpenters

The Carpenters were a vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter and Richard Carpenter . Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and press materials is simply "Carpenters", without the Article ....
, Minnie Riperton
Minnie Riperton

Minnie Julia Riperton was an American singer-songwriter best known for her five-and-a-half octave vocal range and her 1975 single "Lovin' You"....
, Doris Day
Doris Day

Doris Mary Anne von Kappelhoff is a German-American singer, actress, and animal welfare advocate known as Doris Day. Able to sing, dance, and play comedy and dramatic roles, she became one of the biggest box-office stars....
, Nina Simone
Nina Simone

Eunice Kathleen Waymon, better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was a Grammy Award-nominated American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights activist....
, Joan Baez
Joan Baez

Joan Chandos Baez is a Mexican-United States folk singer and songwriter known for her highly individual vocal style. Many of her songs are Topical song and deal with social issues....
 and others. Newton-John dedicated the album to her mother who died the previous year.

Newton-John acted occasionally since Two of a Kind
Two of a Kind (1983 film)

Two of a Kind is a 1983 in film romantic comedy film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The original music score was composed by Patrick Williams ....
. She appeared in a supporting role in the 1996 AIDS drama, It's My Party - her first feature film since Two Of A Kind
Two of a Kind (1983 film)

Two of a Kind is a 1983 in film romantic comedy film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The original music score was composed by Patrick Williams ....
. In 2000, she appeared in a dramatically different role as Bitsy Mae Harling, a lesbian ex-con country singer, in Del Shores
Del Shores

Del Shores is an United States Film director, television writer, playwright and actor....
' Sordid Lives
Sordid Lives

Sordid Lives is a 2000 in film independent film comedy written and directed by Del Shores. The movie is based on Shores' play of the same name and includes elements of his life, according to the director's DVD commentary....
. Newton-John's television work included starring in two Christmas movies, A Mom For Christmas (1990) and A Christmas Romance (1994) - both Top 10 Nielsen hits. Her daughter, Chloe
Chloe Rose Lattanzi

Chloe Rose Lattanzi is an United States-born singer and actress. She was born in Los Angeles to actress and singer Olivia Newton-John who is Australian and starred alongside John Travolta in the hit Grease....
, starred as one of her children in both A Christmas Romance and in the 2001 Showtime film The Wilde Girls. Newton-John guest-starred as herself in the sitcoms Ned and Stacey, Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown

Murphy Brown is an United States situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988 to May 18, 1998, for a total of 247 episodes. The program starred Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown , an investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television newsmagazine....
 and Bette. In Australia, Newton-John hosted Wild Life, a show about animals and nature - two major interests for Newton-John. She also guest starred as Joanna on two episodes of the Australian series The Man From Snowy River
The Man From Snowy River (TV series)

The Man from Snowy River is an Australian television series based on Banjo Paterson's poem "The Man from Snowy River ". Released in Australia as Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River, the series was subsequently released in the United States as Snowy River: The McGregor Saga....
.

After her 1995 divorce from Matt Lattanzi, Newton-John met gaffer/cameraman
Camera operator

A camera operator is a person that operates a Movie camera or video camera for the purpose of recording motion to film, video, or a computer storage medium....
 Patrick McDermott
Patrick McDermott

Patrick Kim McDermott is a light technician who was a long time boyfriend of Olivia Newton-John. He is believed to have drowned on a fishing trip on June 30, 2005....
 the following year. The couple dated on and off for nine years until he went missing following a 2005 fishing trip off the California coast. Various theories abounded regarding his disappearance ranging from his death by accident or foul play to McDermott staging his disappearance to avoid child support payments to his ex-wife, actress Yvette Nipar. Newton-John, who was in Australia at her self-owned Gaia Retreat & Spa at the time of his disappearance, was never a suspect and refused to comment on any speculation. A US Coast Guard investigation released in 2008 "suggest[ed] McDermott was lost at sea." Newton-John returned to the tabloid headlines again in 2007 when it was revealed that her daughter was recovering from anorexia.

Newton-John released another concert DVD, Olivia Newton-John and the Sydney Symphony: Live at the Sydney Opera House, and a companion CD, Olivia's Live Hits, in January 2008. An edited version of the DVD premiered on PBS station, WLIW (Garden City, New York), in October 2007 and subsequently aired nationally during the network's fund-raising pledge drives. This was Newton-John's third live album after the 1981 Japanese release, Love Performance, and her 2000 Australian release, One Woman's Live Journey.

In June 2008, Newton-John secretly wed John ("Amazon John") Easterling, founder and president of natural remedy firm, Amazon Herb Company. The couple met 15 years earlier, but only became romantically involved in 2007. (Like Newton-John, this was Easterling's second marriage.) The couple married alone in a private Incan spiritual ceremony in Cuzco, Peru on June 21 followed nine days later by a legal ceremony on the Jupiter Island beachfront in Florida. There were no guests at either service since the couple preferred to marry simply and privately. Only Newton-John's daughter, Chloe, was aware of the nuptials. The couple did not announce their marriage until a July 4th barbecue at Newton-John's Malibu, California home where guests were surprised with the news. The wedding was confirmed thereafter by HELLO! magazine which published exclusive pictures of both weddings.

Current endeavours


  • Olivia Newton-John & Friends concert - State Theatre, Sydney, NSW September 2008


Newton-John performed with Guy Sebastian
Guy Sebastian

Guy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian, singer-songwriter and winner of the first Australian Idol television talent competition quest in 2003....
 at this concert for her special charity, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre Appeal. They performed her iconic hit from Grease
Grease

Grease may refer to:* Grease , a type of industrial lubricant* Yellow grease, in rendering, used frying oils, or lower-quality grades of tallow...
, Summer nights
Summer Nights

"Summer Nights" is a popular song made famous by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.Written by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs, "Summer Nights" was one of the stand out songs from the musical Grease ....
. Sebastian also performed a medley of Memphis soul songs at the concert.

  • Newton-John joined Judy Brooks and Roy Walkenhorst as co-host of the health and well-being series, Healing Quest, currently airing on PBS.\


  • Newton-John reprised her role as Bitsy Mae Harling for Sordid Lives: The Series
    Sordid Lives: The Series

    Sordid Lives: The Series is an United States television series created, written, and directed by Del Shores and acts as a prequel to 2000 film Sordid Lives, also by Shores, self-described as a "Black comedy about white trash"....
     which airs on the LOGO television network . The series features five original songs written by Newton-John specifically for the show. Newton-John helped launch the series by performing a nine song concert at Los Angeles Gay Pride on June 8.


  • Newton-John will perform as part of the "Australia Plays Broadway" concert at New York's Carnegie Hall on January 20, 2009. The event is part of "G'day USA: Australia Week 2009."


  • Newton-John resumed touring in 1999. Her current tour schedule can be found at http://olivianewton-john.com/tour.html


  • In 2003, Newton-John spoke out against the use/abuse of animals in entertainment; more specifically, the use of a boxing kangaroo in a circus and elephants in Thailand's tourism industry


Discography and Videography


Honors


1979
  • Officer of the Order of the British Empire
    Order of the British Empire

    The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a United Kingdom order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom....
     (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II
    Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

    Elizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known as the Commonwealth realms: Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Canada, Monarchy of Australia, Monarchy of New Zealand, Monarchy of Jamaica, Monarchy of Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Monarchy of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Sain...
     


1981
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame
    Hollywood Walk of Fame

    The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, that serves as an entertainment hall of fame....


1990
  • Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme


1998
  • Cadillac Concept Humanitarian Award for breast cancer research


1999
  • Red Cross - Humanitarian Award for breast cancer and environmental charity work
  • Women's Guild of Cedar-Sinai Hospital - "Woman of the 21st Century" Award for breast cancer and environmental charity work


2000
  • Environmental Media Association - "Ermenegildo Zegna International Environmental Award" for increasing public awareness of environmental problems
  • Rainforest Alliance - Green Globe Arts and Nature Award for her contribution to the preservation of rainforests


2002
  • Australian Recording Industry Association
    Australian Recording Industry Association

    The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australia recording industry. It oversees the collection, administration and distribution of music licenses and royalties....
     - Hall of Fame


2006
  • Australia Day at Penfolds Black Tie Gala - Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Decatur Memorial Hospital (Illinois) - Humanitarian Award for her breast cancer awareness work from the
  • Officer in the Order of Australia
    Order of Australia

    The Order of Australia is an Order established by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Australia on 14 February 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"....
     (AO) for "service to the entertainment industry as a singer and actor, and to the community through organisations supporting breast cancer treatment, education, training and research, and the environment"


2007
  • American Australian Association Black Tie Gala - Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Kimmel Center (Philadelphia, PA) - Valor Award for raising funds for cancer research


2008
  • Project Angel Food - Marianne Williamson Founder's Award for her commitment to breast cancer awareness


Awards


Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards

Win:
  • 1973 - Most Promising Female Vocalist


Nomination:
  • 1974 - Top Female Vocalist


AGVA
  • 1974 - Rising Star of the Year


American Music Awards

Wins:
  • 1974 - Favorite Album – Country: "Let Me Be There"
  • 1974 - Favorite Female Artist – Country
  • 1974 - Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock
  • 1974 - Favorite Single - Pop/Rock: "I Honestly Love You"
  • 1975 - Favorite Album - Pop/Rock: "Have You Never Been Mellow"
  • 1975 - Favorite Female Artist – Country
  • 1975 - Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock
  • 1976 - Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock
  • 1978 - Favorite Album - Pop/Rock: "Grease"
  • 1982 - Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock


Nominations:
  • 1975 - Favorite Album - Country: "Have You Never Been Mellow"
  • 1979 - Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock
  • 1980 - Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock


Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards

Win:
  • 1999 - Highest Selling Album: "Highlights From The Main Event"


Nomination:
  • 1999 - Best Adult Contemporary Album: "Highlights From The Main Event"


Billboard Awards
  • 1974 - Top Pop Singles Artist (Female)
  • 1975 - Top Pop Albums Artist (Female)
  • 1976 - Top Adult Contemporary Artist
  • 1979 - Top Soundtrack: "Grease"
  • 1982 - Top Pop Single: "Physical"
  • 1982 - Top Pop Singles Artist
  • 1982 - Top Pop Singles Artist (Female)
  • 1997 - Top Pop Catalog Album: "Grease"
  • 1998 - Top Pop Catalog Album: "Grease"


Cashbox Awards
  • 1974 - No.1 New Female Vocalist, Singles
  • 1975 - No.1 Female Vocalist, Singles
  • 1975 - No.1 Female Vocalist, Albums


Country Music Association (CMA) Awards

Win:
  • 1974 - Female Vocalist of the Year


Nominations:
  • 1974 - Album of the Year - "If You Love Me Let Me Know"
  • 1974 - Entertainer of the Year
  • 1974 - Single of the Year - "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)"


Daytime Emmy Awards

  • 1999 - Outstanding Original Song - "Love Is A Gift"
Grammy Awards

Wins:
  • 1973
    Grammy Awards of 1974

    The 16th Grammy Awards were held March 2, 1974, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1973....
     - Best Female Country Vocal Performance
    Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance

    The Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance was first awarded in 1965, to Dottie West. The award has had several minor name changes:...
    : "Let Me Be There"
  • 1974
    Grammy Awards of 1975

    The 17th Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1975, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1974....
     - Record of the Year
    Grammy Award for Record of the Year

    The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959. The honorees through its history have been:...
    : "I Honestly Love You"
  • 1974
    Grammy Awards of 1975

    The 17th Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1975, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1974....
     - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
    Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

    The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959....
    : "I Honestly Love You"
  • 1982
    Grammy Awards of 1983

    The 25th Grammy Awards were held February 23, 1983. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.*Grammy Award for Record of the Year...
     - Video of the Year
    Grammy Award for Video of the Year

    The Grammy Award Video of the Year was awarded from 1982 to 1983 for the most favorite music video.Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for music released in the previous year....
    : "Olivia Physical"


Nominations:
  • 1975
    Grammy Awards of 1976

    The 18th Grammy Awards were held February 28, 1976, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1975....
     - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
    Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

    The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959....
    : "Have You Never Been Mellow"
  • 1978
    Grammy Awards of 1979

    The 21st Grammy Awards were held in 1979, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1978....
     - Album of the Year
    Grammy Award for Album of the Year

    The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer....
    : Grease
  • 1978
    Grammy Awards of 1979

    The 21st Grammy Awards were held in 1979, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1978....
     - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
    Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

    The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959....
    : "Hopelessly Devoted to You"
  • 1980
    Grammy Awards of 1981

    The 23rd Grammy Awards were held February 25, 1981, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1980....
     - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
    Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

    The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959....
    : "Magic"
  • 1981
    Grammy Awards of 1982

    The 24th Grammy Awards were held February 24, 1982, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1981....
     - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
    Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

    The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959....
    : "Physical"
  • 1982
    Grammy Awards of 1983

    The 25th Grammy Awards were held February 23, 1983. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.*Grammy Award for Record of the Year...
     - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
    Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

    The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959....
    : "Heart Attack"
  • 1983
    Grammy Awards of 1984

    The 26th Grammy Awards were held on February 28 1984, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1983....
     - Best Long Form Music Video
    Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video

    The Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video has been awarded since 1984. A similar award for Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video has also been awarded since 1984....
    : Olivia In Concert
  • 1984
    Grammy Awards of 1985

    The 27th Grammy Awards were held February 26, 1985, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1984....
     - Best Short Form Music Video
    Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video

    The Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video has been awarded since 1984. A similar award for Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video has also been awarded since 1984....
    : Twist Of Fate


National Association of Retail Merchandisers (NARM)
  • Best Selling Album by a Female Country Artist: "If You Love Me, Let Me Know"
  • Best Selling Album by a Female: "If You Love Me, Let Me Know"


People's Choice Awards
  • 1975 - Favorite Female Musical Performer
  • 1977 - Favorite Female Musical Performer
  • 1979 - Favorite Female Musical Performer
  • 1979 - Favorite Motion Picture Actress


Record World
  • 1974 - Top Most Promising Country Albums Artist (Female)
  • 1974 - Top Most Promising Country Singles Artist (Female)
  • 1974 - Top Pop Female Vocalist (Albums)
  • 1974 - Top Pop Female Vocalist (Singles)
  • 1975 - Top Country Female Vocalist (Albums)
  • 1975 - Top Pop Female Vocalist (Albums)
  • 1975 - Top Pop Female Vocalist (Singles)
  • 1976 - Top Country Female Vocalist (Albums)
  • 1976 - Top Pop Female Vocalist (Albums)
  • 1978 - Top New Pop Duo (Singles) with John Travolta
    John Travolta

    John Joseph Travolta is a two-time Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning United States actor, dancer and singer, best known for his leading roles in films such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Pulp Fiction ....


Bibliography

  • Wood, Gerry. (1998). "Olivia Newton-John". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 380-1.


External links