Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Olivia Newton-John
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Olivia Newton-John made an impact.
Dame Olivia Newton-John was a celebrated British-Australian singer and actress. A global icon, she sold over 100 million records, establishing herself as one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the highest-selling female Australian recording artist. Her career spanned multiple decades, marked by both musical success and memorable performances in film.
1964: Acting Talent Recognition
In 1964, Olivia Newton-John's acting talent was first recognised portraying Lady Mary Lasenby, and she became the Young Sun's Drama Award best schoolgirl actress runner-up.
1965: Co-starring in Funny Things Happen Down Under
In 1965, Olivia Newton-John co-starred in the Australian telefilm Funny Things Happen Down Under, where she met her then-boyfriend, Ian Turpie.
1965: Winning the Talent Contest on Sing, Sing, Sing
In 1965, Olivia Newton-John won a talent contest on the television program Sing, Sing, Sing.
1966: First Single Recording
In 1966, Olivia Newton-John recorded her first single, "Till You Say You'll Be Mine", in Britain for Decca Records.
1970: Starring in Toomorrow and Recording Soundtrack
In 1970, Olivia Newton-John starred in the science fiction musical Toomorrow and recorded an accompanying soundtrack album.
1971: Early Hit Singles
In 1971, Olivia Newton-John released early hit singles including "If Not for You" and "Banks of the Ohio".
1971: Release of First Solo Album
In 1971, Olivia Newton-John released her first solo album, If Not for You, and had her first international hit with the title track.
1971: Compiled Back to Basics Album
In 1992, Olivia Newton-John compiled the album Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992, planning her first tour since her Physical trek ten years prior.
1972: Minimal Impact of "What Is Life"
In 1972, Olivia Newton-John's single "What Is Life" made minimal impact in the United States.
November 1973: Release of "Let Me Be There" Album
In November 1973, Olivia Newton-John's third studio album Let Me Be There was released, retitled Music Makes My Day in Britain.
1973: Success of "Let Me Be There"
In 1973, Olivia Newton-John released "Let Me Be There", which achieved top 10 status on Pop, Country, and AC charts and won her a Grammy.
1973: Meeting Lee Kramer
In 1973, while vacationing on the French Riviera, Olivia Newton-John met British businessman Lee Kramer, who became her boyfriend and manager.
1974: Billboard 200 No. 1 Album
In 1974, Olivia Newton-John had a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200: If You Love Me, Let Me Know.
1974: "I Honestly Love You" Grammy Win
In 1974, Olivia Newton-John released "I Honestly Love You", which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
1974: Eurovision Song Contest
In 1974, Olivia Newton-John represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Long Live Love".
1974: Success of "I Honestly Love You"
In 1974, Olivia Newton-John's single "I Honestly Love You" became a number-one hit and earned her two more Grammys.
April 1975: Entered into Record Deal with MCA
In April 1975, Olivia Newton-John and MCA signed an initial two-year deal for four albums, with options for extensions, setting the stage for future legal disputes.
1975: Appearing on John Denver - A Rocky Mountain Christmas
In 1975, Olivia Newton-John appeared on the ABC special John Denver - A Rocky Mountain Christmas, where she performed the duet of “Fly Away” with John, as well as “Let It Shine”.
1975: Billboard 200 No. 1 Album
In 1975, Olivia Newton-John had a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200: Have You Never Been Mellow.
1975: Release of "Have You Never Been Mellow"
In 1975, Olivia Newton-John released the defining hit single "Have You Never Been Mellow".
November 1976: Headlining First US Television Special
In November 1976, Olivia Newton-John headlined her first US television special, A Special Olivia Newton-John.
1976: Recording "Don't Stop Believin'" in Nashville
In 1976, Olivia Newton-John recorded her album, Don't Stop Believin', in Nashville, Tennessee, amid the debate surrounding her success in country music.
1977: Release of "Sam"
In 1977, Olivia Newton-John released the defining hit single "Sam".
1977: Return to No. 1 with "Sam"
In 1977, Olivia Newton-John's single "Sam" returned her to the No. 1 spot on the AC chart.
November 1978: Release of Totally Hot Album
In November 1978, Olivia Newton-John released her album Totally Hot, which reached the Top 10. This album capitalized on her appearance at the end of Grease and demonstrated a more aggressive sound.
1978: Grease Becomes a Box Office Hit
In 1978, Grease became a major box-office hit with its soundtrack spending 12 weeks at No. 1. It produced three top 5 singles for Newton-John, including "You're the One That I Want" and "Hopelessly Devoted to You." She was the second woman to have two singles simultaneously in the Billboard top 5.
1978: Cancelled Japan Concert Tour
In 1978, Olivia Newton-John cancelled a concert tour in Japan to protest the slaughter of dolphins, but later rescheduled it after receiving assurances from the Japanese government that the practice was being curbed.
1978: Return to the Top Ten
In 1978, Olivia Newton-John returned to the top ten of the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts.
1978: Starring in Grease and Hit Singles
In 1978, Olivia Newton-John starred in "Grease," a highly successful musical film, and released hit singles like "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "A Little More Love".
1978: Starred as Sandy in Grease
In 1978, Olivia Newton-John's career significantly advanced after she played Sandy in the film adaptation of Grease. She accepted the role after a screen test with John Travolta, overcoming initial concerns about her age and a previous bad film experience. During this time, she previewed some of the film's soundtrack during her second American network television special, Olivia, featuring guests ABBA and Andy Gibb.
1979: Performed at Music for UNICEF Concert
In 1979, Olivia Newton-John performed at the Music for UNICEF Concert during the UN's International Year of the Child, donating royalties to benefit the cause.
1979: Golden Globe Nomination and Academy Awards Performance
In 1979, Olivia Newton-John received a People's Choice Award for Favourite Film Actress and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Grease. She also performed the Oscar-nominated "Hopelessly Devoted to You" at the Academy Awards.
1980: Meeting Matt Lattanzi
In 1980, Olivia Newton-John met Matt Lattanzi while filming Xanadu.
1980: Release of "Magic" and "Xanadu"
In 1980, Olivia Newton-John released "Magic" and "Xanadu" from the film Xanadu, with the Electric Light Orchestra.
1980: Starred in Xanadu
In 1980, Olivia Newton-John starred in the film Xanadu with Gene Kelly and Michael Beck. Although the film was a critical failure, the soundtrack was a commercial success.
1981: Release of 'Love Performance'
In 1981, Newton-John released 'Love Performance'.
1981: Composed and Recorded 'The Promise (the Dolphin Song)'
In 1981, Olivia Newton-John composed and recorded the song "The Promise (the Dolphin Song)" on the Physical album, in honor of dolphins, reflecting her ongoing commitment to animal welfare.
1981: Release of "Physical"
In 1981, Olivia Newton-John released "Physical", which became Billboard's highest-ranking Hot 100 single of the 1980s.
1982: Olivia in Concert Performance
In 1982, Olivia Newton-John performed Dolly Parton's "Jolene" in Concert, showcasing a down-falling note range covering three octaves. This performance highlighted her impressive musical abilities.
January 1983: Olivia in Concert TV Special Premieres on HBO
In January 1983, the Olivia in Concert television special premiered on HBO, featuring footage from her international tour following the success of the Physical album.
1983: Release of "Twist of Fate"
In 1983, Olivia Newton-John released the defining hit single "Twist of Fate".
1983: Starred in Two of a Kind with John Travolta
In 1983, Olivia Newton-John reteamed with John Travolta for the film Two of a Kind, which was not successful critically or commercially but had a platinum soundtrack.
1985: Released Soul Kiss Album
In 1985, Olivia Newton-John released her album Soul Kiss, which was certified gold. The album had only one charted single, which was the title track.
1988: Released The Rumour Album
In 1988, Olivia Newton-John resumed her recording career with the album The Rumour, promoted by an HBO special. The album and its title track had limited commercial success.
September 1989: Released Warm and Tender Album
In September 1989, Olivia Newton-John released her album Warm and Tender, inspired by her daughter, marking a return to a more wholesome image but failing to revive her recording career.
1989: "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed" released by Grayson Hugh
In 1989, Grayson Hugh, the arranger of "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed", released his version of the song, which became a top-20 pop hit as "Talk It Over".
1990: Starred in A Mom for Christmas
In 1990, Olivia Newton-John starred in the Christmas film A Mom for Christmas, which was a top 10 Nielsen hit, showcasing her presence in television films.
1991: Became National Spokesperson for CHEC
In 1991, Olivia Newton-John became the National Spokesperson for the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund/CHEC, following the death of Colette Chuda, and later advocated for breast cancer research and other health issues.
1994: Released Gaia: One Woman's Journey
In 1994, Olivia Newton-John released Gaia: One Woman's Journey, an album chronicling her battle with breast cancer. It was the first album on which she wrote all the music and lyrics herself.
1994: Starred in A Christmas Romance
In 1994, Olivia Newton-John starred in the Christmas film A Christmas Romance, which was a top 10 Nielsen hit, reinforcing her success in television films.
1996: "Don't Cut Me Down" Used in It's My Party
In 1996, Olivia Newton-John's environmentally themed song "Don't Cut Me Down" was featured in the film It's My Party, an AIDS drama, highlighting her advocacy through music.
December 1998: Return to Solo Touring
In December 1998, Newton-John resumed touring by herself after a 16-year hiatus.
December 1998: The Main Event Tour
In December 1998, Newton-John, John Farnham, and Anthony Warlow performed in The Main Event Tour, with the album peaking at No. 1.
1998: Return to Nashville and Recording of "Back with a Heart"
In 1998, Newton-John returned to Nashville to record "Back with a Heart," which reached No. 59 on the Pop chart and No. 9 on the Country Albums chart.
2000: Performance at the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
In 2000, Newton-John and John Farnham performed "Dare to Dream" at the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Sydney.
2000: Appearance in "Sordid Lives"
In 2000, Newton-John played Bitsy Mae Harling in "Sordid Lives" and teamed with Vince Gill and the London Symphony Orchestra for "'Tis the Season".
2000: Release of "One Woman's Live Journey"
In 2000, Newton-John released "One Woman's Live Journey", her first live album since 1981.
2002: Hotel Sessions recorded
In 2002, Newton-John recorded unreleased demos that were recorded with her nephew Brett Goldsmith for her album, Hotel Sessions.
2002: Release of "(2)" Duets Album
In 2002, Newton-John released "(2)", a duets album featuring mostly Australian artists.
2002: American Distribution of Gaia
In 2002, Olivia Newton-John's album Gaia received American distribution by Hip-O Records, expanding its reach to a wider audience.
October 2004: Release of "Indigo: Women of Song" in Australia
In October 2004, Newton-John released "Indigo: Women of Song" in Australia, dedicating it to her mother.
2005: Release of "Stronger Than Before"
In 2005, Newton-John released "Stronger Than Before", sold exclusively in the United States by Hallmark to benefit breast cancer research.
2005: Founding of Gaia Retreat & Spa
In 2005, Olivia Newton-John co-founded the Gaia Retreat & Spa in Byron Bay.
2006: Release of "Grace and Gratitude"
In 2006, Newton-John released "Grace and Gratitude", sold exclusively by Walgreens to benefit charities including the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.
2008: Great Wall of China Walk and Release of 'A Celebration in Song'
In 2008, Newton-John led a walk along the Great Wall of China to raise funds for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre and released the album "A Celebration in Song".
May 2010: Glee Appearance and "Physical" recreation
In May 2010, Newton-John recreated her "Physical" video with Jane Lynch on Glee, and the performance was released as a digital single.
2010: Starring in Score: A Hockey Musical
In 2010, Newton-John starred in the film "Score: A Hockey Musical", which opened the Toronto International Film Festival.
January 2011: Filming "A Few Best Men"
In January 2011, Newton-John began filming the comedy "A Few Best Men" in Australia.
2011: Hotel Sessions recorded
In 2011, Newton-John recorded unreleased demos that were recorded with her nephew Brett Goldsmith for her album, Hotel Sessions.
November 2012: Charity Album 'This Christmas'
In November 2012, Newton-John teamed with John Travolta to make the charity album This Christmas, in support of The Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre and the Jett Travolta Foundation.
2012: Re-release of Gaia
In 2012, Gaia was re-released by Green Hill Records, featuring an alternative cover photo, marking another chapter in the album's journey.
2012: Opening of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre
In 2012, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre opened at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.
April 2014: Residency and Release of Hotel Sessions
In April 2014, Newton-John resumed performing in Vegas and released a new EP entitled Hotel Sessions.
August 2014: Extension of Vegas Residency
In August 2014, Newton-John's Vegas residency was extended.
2015: Two Strong Hearts Live Tour
In 2015, Newton-John reunited with John Farnham for Two Strong Hearts Live.
2015: Guest Judge on RuPaul's Drag Race and Dance Club Songs Chart
In 2015, Newton-John was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race and scored her first number-one single on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart with "You Have to Believe".
2015: Rechristening of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre
In 2015, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre was rechristened the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre.
December 2016: End of Summer Nights Residency
In December 2016, Newton-John's Summer Nights residency finished after 175 shows.
2016: Liv On CD
In 2016, Newton-John co-produced Liv On CD with Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky.
2017: Liv On Concert Tour
In 2017, Newton-John collaborated with Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky on a joint concert tour entitled Liv On.
November 2019: Auction of Memorabilia
In November 2019, Julien's Auctions auctioned hundreds of memorabilia items from Newton-John's career, raising $2.4 million for her Cancer Wellness and Research Centre.
January 2021: Release of "Window in the Wall"
In January 2021, Newton-John released her final single, "Window in the Wall", a duet with her daughter Chloe Lattanzi.
2021: Sale of Gaia Retreat & Spa
In 2021, Olivia Newton-John sold the Gaia Retreat & Spa for $30 million to the investment firm of Tattarang.
