Olivia Newton-John, British contestant at the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 dies

British-Australian actress Olivia Newton-John, who represented the United Kingdom at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, has died at the age of 73.

Olivia Newton-John is a four-time Grammy Award-winning singer and actress best known for her film roles as Sandy Olsson – alongside John Travolta – in 1978’s Grease and Kira in the 1980 musical Xanadu, but she is also the singer of many hit songs.

She is credited with Banks of the Ohio, Let Me Be There, If You Love Me, Let Me Know, I Honestly Love You, You’re the One That I Want, Heart Attack, Xanadu and Physical, while one of her debuts was her Eurovision Song Contest 1974 entry Long Live Love, which came fourth in the Brighton competition.

This continental competition was won by one of ABBA’s most popular, successful and best-known songs to date, Waterloo. Olivia’s death has been expressed with condolences by the members of the Swedish pop band.

“So sad to hear of Olivia’s passing…
A fine person has left us –
and there are many of us who mourn her now…
My thoughts go out to the family,
and her music and personality
will always remain in memory/

Agnetha”

“What do you feel, what do you say when the nicest, kindest and most loving woman leaves us to travel somewhere else. The heart aches to know Olivia’s brave fight against an, in her case, invincible enemy. That she never gave up or complained about her situation, but instead told us her story so that we would understand and want to help others affected.

I am grateful to have known a person like you Olivia and you will always be in my heart.

With love,
Your friend Frida”

In their own words. pic.twitter.com/FJ4bsjnKVe

— ABBA (@ABBA) August 9, 2022

Olivia announced in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with cancer for the third time. Born in the UK but raised in Australia, the actress was widely recognised as an animal rights and environmental activist, as well as for her work in raising awareness against breast cancer. She passed away surrounded by family and friends at her Southern California farm on August 8, 2022, according to information.

Illustration by Dezo Hoffman (REX-Shutterstock)
Source: Eurovision.tv, MTI / OurVision International