Newton-John, Olivia (1948–)

views updated

Newton-John, Olivia (1948–)

English singer. Born Sept 26, 1948, in Cambridge, England; m. Matt Lattanzi (actor), 1984 (sep. 1995); children: Chloe (b. 1986).

Grew up in Australia; started 1st band, Sol Four, while in high school; joined band Tomorrow; toured with Cliff Richard and appeared on his series, "It's Cliff Richard"; released 1st single, "If Not For You" (1971), which was UK and US hit; released 1st US album, Let Me Be There (1973), which went gold, along with titletrack single; moved to LA and had hit with "Have You Never Been Mellow" (1975); won Best Female Singer Award from Country Music Association (1976); starred in Grease (1978), which produced 3 singles, "You're the One That I Want," "Summer Nights" and "Hopelessly Devoted to You"; appeared in unsuccessful film, Xanadu (1980), but had hit with soundtrack, which went double platinum; released platinum LPs Totally Hot (1978) and Physical (1981), whose title track was #1; appeared in films Two of a Kind (1983) and Sordid Lives (1999); released children's album, Warm and Tender (1989); treated for breast cancer (early 1990s), made documentary on experience, Gaia: One Woman's sJourney (1994). Received Order of the British Empire (OBE).