The world has lost a true Hollywood legend, Olivia Newton John has passed away at the age of 73
Olivia rose to stardom for her remarkable performance in hit musical “Grease” where she co-starred alongside Actor John Travolta, in 1978.
She was just 29 years of age, playing the role of an innocent teen in love with the bad boy.
Together, they won hearts across the world, bringing in a whopping $395 million USD from the box office.
A movie star turned cancer advocate, Newton-John spent much of her later years fiercely fighting for awareness and further research.
We take a look back on her life, her legacy and the hole she is leaving behind
Long before Olivia Newton John became a household name in Hollywood, she started from a home in Melbourne.
Born in Cambridge 1948, her family emigrated to Australia. The youngest of three children. Her teenage years saw her became a major drawcard on the Happy Show.
But the bight lights of Melbourne in the 1970s could never contain that voice.
She moved to the UK and in 1974 represented the Britain in the Eurovision song contest.
Australian trailblazer Helen Ready encouraged Olivia to move to the United States where she quickly climbed the charts.
She certainly had somewhere else to go – Rydell High.
She scored the role in the film adaptation of the Broadway hit, despite her concerns about being 29, playing a high school senior, insisting on a screen test with John Travolta.
Now the girl from Melbourne, was now a Hollywood star.
And there was nowhere to hide – Grease became the biggest box office hit of 1978. Olivia Newton John’s career soared
Just like Sandys transformation in the film, Olivia was ready for a new spandex clad image, just in time for the 80s.
Pioneering an iconic look and telling us all…”let’s get physical”
Physical smashed the charts, before she starred alongside Gene Kelly in her second major film, playing the star.
In 1986 she gave birth to her daughter Chloe and resumed her career in the early 90s, before she was diagnosed with cancer – receiving the diagnosis the same weekend her father died.
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 19: Actress/singer Olivia Newton-John (L) and daughter actress/singer Chloe Lattanzi attend ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 21 at CBS Televison City on October 19, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
She survived and became an advocate for breast cancer research, teaming with the Victorian government to create the Olivia Newton John cancer wellness and research centre in Melbourne.
Leading a three week, 230km walk along the great ocean road to raise funds.
Forever passionate about the environment. She cancelled a tour of Japan over the slaughter of dolphins.
She battled in her personal life too. Her partner Patrick McDermott disappeared on a fishing trip in 2005. Her daughter faced health problems
Through all her battles, she continued performing.
An immortal Australian performer, a passional advocate for health, the voice of a generation.
In Short:
– Federal authorities are investigating the shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was killed at Utah Valley University.
– A manhunt for the actual shooter is underway; two men have been questioned and released without charges.
Federal authorities are investigating the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, who was killed while speaking at Utah Valley University.
The incident occurred around 12:20 PM when Kirk was shot in the neck, leading to a chaotic scene as attendees fled. Kirk, a father of two, died shortly after being taken to a local hospital.Investigators believe the shooter fired from a building approximately 200 yards away.
During the aftermath, two men, one of whom claimed to have fired the shot, were taken into custody but later released without charges. A manhunt is ongoing for the actual shooter.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that those responsible will be held accountable, outlining the state’s commitment to justice.
President Donald Trump condemned the political climate surrounding Kirk’s death, blaming extreme rhetoric and violence.
In a statement, he remembered Kirk as a patriot who advocated for open debate. Following the incident, vigils were held nationwide, and classes at the university have been cancelled.
Ongoing Investigation
As investigations continue, American flags will fly at half-staff until Sunday in honour of Kirk.
“I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, told a news conference.
“And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.
The Utah Department of Public Safety said that its State Crime Lab was “working with multiple active crime scenes”.
“These were identified based on where the victim was shot, as well as the locations where the suspect and victim travelled,” a department statement said.
“The shooting is believed to be a targeted attack. The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard.”
Eyewitness account
Attendee Tiana Lao said the shooting came as a shock in what otherwise felt like an= normal event.
“We didn’t realise it was real at first and then everyone began rushing out, shouting to get down in panic and distress,” she told ABC News.
“People were excited. There were some opponents like there usually are at these events … but they were peaceful, so this was a total shock.”
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk assassinated at Utah university, leaving a significant void in U.S. conservative politics. #BreakingNews
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been assassinated while speaking at a Utah university, sparking shock and grief across America.
Known as the founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk became a leading voice in the MAGA movement, shaping conservative youth politics and energising Donald Trump’s base.
His sudden death leaves a major void in the U.S. conservative landscape.
In Short:
– Oracle shares rose 43% to $345.69, nearing a trillion-dollar valuation after multi-billion-dollar contracts were announced.
– Co-founder Larry Ellison’s net worth increased to $392.6 billion, making him a contender for the world’s richest person.
Oracle shares surged 43% to a record high of $345.69, putting the company close to joining the trillion-dollar club.
This spike follows the announcement of four multi-billion-dollar contracts on Tuesday, indicating a shift towards increased computing capacity necessary for AI development.
The surge boosts co-founder Larry Ellison’s net worth to approximately $392.6 billion, making him a contender for the world’s richest person, currently held by Elon Musk at $439.9 billion.
Oracle expects to see a market valuation around $913 billion if gains hold, contributing an additional $234 billion.
Market Dynamics
Oracle’s significant contracts include one with OpenAI for about $300 billion in computing power over five years.
The partnership is critical as Oracle aims to expand its market share, currently dominated by Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, which collectively hold 65%.
The company also supports AI startups, including xAI, founded by Musk, affirming its essential role in upcoming large-scale AI infrastructure projects, projected to reach $500 billion.