John Travolta and More React to Olivia Newton-John's Death: "Made All of Our Lives So Much Better"

Updated on Aug 9, 2022 at 10:50 AM

Stars are mourning beloved "Grease" actor Olivia Newton-John following news of her death. On Aug. 8, Newton-John's family confirmed via Facebook that she died that morning at her home in Southern California from her battle with breast cancer. She was 73 years old.

Newton-John found stardom with the 1978 musical, which she starred in alongside John Travolta, as well as with music thanks to her 1981 smash "Physical" — which Billboard previously listed as the No. 1 single of the decade.

In the wake of Newton-John's death, celebrities used social media to offer their condolences and share fond memories of her, including Travolta who posted a loving tribute to his "Grease" costar on Instagram. "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better," he wrote. "Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again." George Takei tweeted: "We have lost a great, iconic artist in Olivia Newton John, gone too soon from us at age 73."

Ahead, see how stars are paying their respects to Newton-John.

John Travolta

The "Grease" actor paid tribute to his costar in an Instagram post captioned, "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!"

Stockard Channing

Channing, who starred alongside Newton-John in "Grease," released a statement to People remembering the actor. "I don't know if I've known a lovelier human being," she said on Aug. 8. "Olivia was the essence of summer — her sunniness, her warmth and her grace are what always come to mind when I think of her." She added, "I will miss her enormously."

Kelsea Ballerini

The 28-year-old singer honored Newton-John with a cover of her "Grease" song "Hopelessly Devoted to You." "olivia newton-john forever 💔," she captioned the Instagram video posted on Aug. 8.

Kate Hudson

Actor Hudson sang Newton-John's beloved "Grease" song "Hopelessly Devoted to You" to her daughter Rani Rose in an Instagram video. In her caption, she wrote that "There are a handful of people in my life who inspired me to lock myself in my bedroom and sing from the top of my lungs in the mirror. Mimicking every move she made, wishing I could hit those clean high notes and striving to try with my little rasp. What a lovely light of a human."

Continued Hudson, "She was an inspiration to me as I dreamed of what my performers life ahead may be. Thank you for sharing your light to the world as it moved and shaped little girls like me. May we all today sing for Olivia and celebrate her courageous years of fighting. Love and Light."

Gabrielle Union

"'Grease' is my #1 movie of all time and made me a lifelong Olivia Newton John fan. Me and my sister watched Xanadu more times than I could count," she tweeted. "Sending so much love and prayers to a real gift of a woman and talent. #RIPOliviaNewtonJohn 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾."

Mariah Carey

Carey shared a photo of herself performing with Newton-John in Melbourne, where she said the two dueted on "Hopelessly Devoted to You." She called it a "moment I will never forget."

"I first fell in love with Olivia's voice when I was a little girl and heard 'I Honestly Love You,' " said Carey on Instagram. "Songs like 'Magic,' 'Suddenly' and 'Have You Never Been Mellow' showcased her beautiful airy tone and signature sound. And THEN there was GREASE. I was obsessed. I dressed up as Bad Sandy for Halloween in 5th grade and thought I was everything."

She added, "I was also blessed to be in her presence on many other occasions and she was one of the kindest, most generous and lovely people I've ever met. She will be missed. She will be remembered. She will be loved. Olivia, I honestly love you."

Lea Salonga

"Rest In Peace, Olivia Newton-John. Hers was one of the voices of my childhood," the "Pretty Little Lies: Original Sin" star wrote on Twitter. "Deepest condolences to everyone she loved and loved her."

George Takei

"We have lost a great, iconic artist in Olivia Newton John, gone too soon from us at age 73," Takei tweeted. "I trust she is now in the great Xanadu beyond. Know that we are forever hopelessly devoted to you, Olivia. Rest in song and mirth."

Yvette Nicole Brown

"Olivia Newton-John has died. 💔 That's it. I'm done guys. Heartbroken doesn't even BEGIN to cover it. I ADORED her," Brown wrote on Twitter. "I hate this so much. She was only 73. What is going on?! #RIPOliviaNewtonJohn."

Robin Roberts

Wrote Robin Roberts on Twitter, "Very sad news. Great admiration for how she bravely faced breast cancer. Condolences to her loving family and friends."