Olivia Newton-John facts for kids

Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John in 2008
Background information
Born	26 September 1948 (1948-09-26) Cambridge, England, UK
Origin	Melbourne, Australia
Genres	Pop, country, soft rock
Occupations	Singer, actress, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1963–present
Labels	Uni, MCA, EMI, Pye, Festival
Associated acts	Cliff Richard, John Travolta, Electric Light Orchestra, John Farrar, Helen Reddy, Bruce Welch
Website	olivianewton-john.com

Olivia Newton-John (born 26 September 1948) is an Anglo-Australian singer and actress. Her first successful song was "Let Me Be There". The song made the top 10 on the U.S. pop chart. She has since won four Grammy Awards. Her first big acting role was in Grease. It became the most successful movie of 1978.

Early life

Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England. Her father was Welsh. Her mother was from Berlin, the daughter of Max Born. Newton-John is the youngest of three children. In 1954, her family moved to Australia. At age 12, she won a contest at school with girl group "Sol Four". When she was 17 years old, she had her first appearance in a movie, Funny Things Happen Down Under (1965), where she sang "Christmas Time Down Under". Shortly after she was in a talent contest and won first prize, a trip to England. She got a record deal on Decca Records and released her first single, "Till You Say You'll Be Mine", in 1966.

Career

Newton-John stayed in England and recorded a cover of the Bob Dylan song, "If Not For You". It was the song which first caused her to be well known. She released her first solo album, If Not For You, in 1971. In 1973, her career began to do well. Her first successful song was "Let Me Be There". The song made the top 10 on the US pop chart. It also earned her a Grammy Award for Best Country Female. More successful songs followed: "If You Love Me Let Me Know," "I Honestly Love You", "Have You Never Been Mellow", "Please Mr. Please" and many more.

Her first big acting role was with John Travolta in Grease. It became the most successful movie of 1978.

Personal life

Olivia has lived in California for decades. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She had breast cancer in 1992, and recovered. She has been married twice. She has a daughter by her first husband.

She is also an activist for environmental and animal rights issues.

Images for kids

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  Newton-John in 1978

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  Newton-John appearing with John Travolta in 1982

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  Newton-John at the opening of a Koala Blue store in 1988

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  Newton-John at the 1989 Academy Awards

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  Newton-John and Stephan Elliott in January 2012 at the premiere of A Few Best Men in Sydney

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  Newton-John at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival