From their undeniable chemistry as Sandy and Danny to their rock-solid friendship that spanned decades, Olivia Newton-john and John Travolta have always been a cherished duo. Now an in-depth new biography on the late Australian singer and actress reveals how close the Grease lovers actually came to being in love in real life, almost five decades ago.
For A Little More Love, US author Matthew Hild spoke with Olivia’s close inner circle about her extraordinary life, including the memorable Grease era and her close relationship with co-star John.
“I am amazed at how much people still obsess over that, nearly half a century after Grease!” the biographer tells Woman’s Day about the intrigue surrounding the pair.
In his book, Grease star Didi Conn’s comments about the pair’s “real” attraction resurface, but Matthew also shares a telling revelation from an old colleague of Olivia’s. “More than 20 years after Grease was filmed, a musician who had been married to a Scientologist joined Olivia’s band and
became friends with her,” writes Matthew. “He says that Olivia and Travolta were very, very close. Almost that close.”
GENUINE ATTRACTION
The musician recalls a conversation he had with Olivia about John’s ties to Scientology. “I know the Church of Scientology really reveres him as a very valuable follower,” Olivia said. “If I had married John, would he have expected me to become a Scientologist?”
“It would not have been mandatory, but it would have been encouraged.”
“Thank you,” Olivia replied. “That’s all I want to know.”
Matthew tells Woman’s Day, “People focus so much on whether the two of them were ever romantically involved when they should be focusing on what a deep and tight friendship they had for as long as Olivia lived.”
The co-stars did share a unique bond that lasted from their Grease days to Olivia’s tragic passing in 2022. She once described their time on-set as “magic”, admitting, “I had great love and support from him and the feeling was mutual.”
Matthew reveals the extent to which John cared about Olivia, saying, “During her health battles in her later years, he offered to fly her on his jet anywhere she might want to seek medical treatment.”
In the end, timing played a pivotal part in Olivia and John’s story. The actor, 72, has said, “It almost happened between us a few times, but it didn't. Sometimes life just offers you the wrong timing. We had to leave it as dear friends.”
MOVING ON
Olivia went on to marry and divorce Matt Lattanzi, Chloe’s father, and in 2008 she wed John Easterling, her partner until her death. John was married to Kelly Preston for 29 years until she passed away in 2020.
Despite this, Olivia occasionally thought about what might have been. “Clearly, she had wondered about the, ‘What if?’” Matthew tells Woman’s Day. “But no one I spoke to gave me the sense that she had deep regrets about it. I didn’t get the impression that she considered John ‘the man who got away’.”
‘Clearly, she had wondered about the “what if?”’
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