A new biography about Olivia Newton-John has revealed that the actress and singer nearly had a romance with John Travolta, but that the relationship was reportedly discouraged by the actor’s ties to Scientology.
The revelations appear in the book A Little More Love: The Life and Legacy of Olivia Newton-John, written by Matthew Hild, in excerpts published by People magazine. The biography explores several aspects of Newton-John’s life and career. She died in 2022, at age 73, from metastatic breast cancer.
According to the book, years after the filming of Grease, Newton-John asked a musician in her band, who had been married to a Scientologist, whether she would have to convert if she married Travolta. According to the account, he told her that it “would not be mandatory, but would be encouraged,” and that was enough for her.
The biography states that the two were “very, very close” during and after the filming of the 1978 classic, although they never publicly confirmed a romantic relationship. Friends and colleagues interviewed for the book suggest there was mutual attraction between the actors.
Although the romance never happened, the two remained close friends for decades. After Newton-John’s death in 2022, Travolta posted an emotional tribute to his colleague, signing the message as “your Danny,” a reference to the character he played in Grease.
Photos: Creative Commons. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
