Olivia Newton-John: John Travolta and Priyanka Chopra among stars to pay tribute

Hugh Jackman, Rebel Wilson and Kylie Minogue were among those leading tributes to the Australian star

Dame Olivia Newton-John has died at the age of 73, her husband has confirmed. PA

At a VIP reception for the Property of Olivia Newton-John Auction Event at Juliens Auctions in 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty / AFP

Newton-John and John Travolta in a scene from the film 'Grease'. Paramount / Getty

Newton-John passes the Olympic flame to Australian tennis player Pat Rafter in front of Sydney Harbour Bridge. AFP

Newton-John and the late actor Kelly Preston at the Children's Health Environmental Coalition on Capitol Hill in Washington. BM / BK

Newton-John was a long-time advocate for breast cancer awareness. AP

Newton-John and Travolta became life-long friends after starring in 'Grease' together in 1978. Paramount Pictures / Library of Congress

Newton John with British recording artist Cliff Richard for the 39th Annual Country Music Association Awards in New York, 2005. AP

Newton-John, a longtime resident of Australia whose sales topped 100 million albums, died Monday at her southern California ranch, John Easterling, her husband, wrote on Instagram and Facebook. AP

Travolta presented Newton-John with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Penfolds Icons gala dinner in 2006. AP

Newton-John performs onstage during the 58th Vina del Mar International Song Festival, in Vina del Mar, Chile in 2017. EPA

Newton-John and Travolta pose on the red carpet at the 40th anniversary celebration of the movie 'Grease' at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in Beverly Hills, California in 2018. AFP

Newton-John gained worldwide fame as high-school sweetheart Sandy in the hit musical movie 'Grease'. AFP

Newton-John's, whose career spanned more than five decades, devoted much of her time and celebrity to charities after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. AFP

Newton-John also starred in the cult classic 'Xandu'. AFP

Newton John performs at the 85th annual Hollywood Christmas parade on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California in 2016. AFP

Newton-John and Travolta in a scene from the film 'Two of a Kind' directed by John Herzteld and released in 1983. AFP

Newton-John at a Cancer Research Institute event at the Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, 2017. EPA

The 'Xandu' star received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters at a special graduation ceremony at La Trobe University, Union Hall, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 2018. EPA

Newton John and her husband, Australian entrepreneur John Easterling. EPA

Travolta considered Newton-John one of his closet friends. AP

Travolta and Newton-John in 1978 during the Deauville American Film Festival for the presentation of the film 'Grease' in Deauville, France. AFP

Newton-John at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994. AFP

Flowers placed at Newton-John's Hollywood Walk of Fame star in Los Angeles, California. AP

Newton-John performing at the Riviera in Las Vegas, Nevada, 1977. Las Vegas News Bureau / EPA

Newton-John beat out Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn for best country singer at the Country Music Awards in 1974. Las News Bureau / EPA

Newton-John died 'peacefully' at her ranch in Southern California on Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends. EPA

Sir Cliff Richard and Newton John at the Royal Variety Performance, London, UK. PA

Priyanka Chopra Jonas was among the famous names that paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John on Tuesday, after the Australian singer and actress died aged 73.

The star died at her home in Southern California surrounded by family and friends, her husband John Easterling said on Instagram.

“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years, sharing her journey with breast cancer,” he wrote.

Chopra Jonas took to Instagram, where she posted a photo of Newton-John as Sandy from the 1978 musical Grease, in which she played opposite John Travolta, writing: “Rest in peace, Olivia Newton-John. Your legacy will always shine on.”

Priyanka Chopra Jonas posted a tribute to Olivia Newton-John on Instagram Stories. Photo: Instagram / Priyanka Chopra

Travolta was among the first to lead tributes to his co-star. He posted a throwback photo of Newton-John on Instagram, writing in the caption: “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!”

He signed off as “Your Danny, Your John”, referring to his character in Grease.

Fellow Australian celebrities flooded social media platforms, including Kylie Minogue, who posted a poignant tribute on Twitter.

“Since I was ten years old, I have loved and looked up to Olivia Newton John. And, I always will,” the singer, who has also battled breast cancer, wrote alongside a black-and-white photo of the two of them.

“She was, and always will be, an inspiration to me in so many, many ways. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.”

Australian actress Rebel Wilson, also paid tribute on Instagram, posting a more recent photo of her with the breast cancer awareness advocate.

“You were the most gorgeous lady inside and out, you are a true Aussie icon and to play your daughter on screen in A FEW BEST MEN was beyond an honour,” Wilson wrote.

“Seeing you star in the huge Hollywood blockbuster GREASE with your natural accent was so instrumental to me as a little girl, helping me to believe that it was possible for an Aussie girl to star in huge international musicals.”

Wilson said Newton-John taught her about health “years before I took it seriously”.

“What a complete legend you are! I am so sad you are gone,” she said.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman also shared his condolences on Instagram, alongside a throwback photo of the two together.

“I’m devastated to hear the news that @therealonj has passed away. One of the great privileges of my life was getting to know her. Not only was she one of the most talented people I’ve known … she was one of the most open hearted, generous and funny.

“She was a one of kind spirit. It’s no secret Olivia was my first crush. I kissed her [poster] every night before bed. Her legacy will only grow stronger in the years to come. A fighter for healing from cancer that knows no bounds.”

Fellow singer and actress Barbra Streisand also posted a tribute on Instagram, writing: “Too young to leave this world. May she RIP.”

Singer Rod Stewart honoured Newton-John, his “great friend”, on Twitter, again with a shot of her in Grease.

“She was the perfect Lady, gorgeous, with great poise and with a certain Aussie sophistication. Her spandex trousers in Grease were my inspiration for my Da ya think I’m Sexy era.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute, alongside numerous other politicians in Newton-John's home country.

The newly elected official wrote a touching tribute, alongside a photo of the pair together.

“Olivia Newton-John was a star. A bright, joyful glow in our lives. From the moment we saw her, she was a warm, enduring presence and her voice became a big part of the Australian soundtrack. Above all she was a wonderful, generous person.”

Celebrities weren't the only ones mourning Newton-John, as fans flooded Hollywood's Walk of Fame on Tuesday, putting flowers on the Xanadu actress's star.

Scroll through the gallery below to see fans mourning Olivia Newton-John

A photo of Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. AFP

Fans stop by late actress Olivia Newton-John's star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is adorned with flowers and photographs. Reuters

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honours Newton-John with an arrangement of pink roses. AP

A fan places flowers on the actress's star in Hollywood. AFP

Fans paid tribute to Newton-John by placing photographs and flowers at her star in Hollywood's Walk of Fame. AFP

Fans mourn the death of the Australian singer and actress. EPA