“Grease” co-stars Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta would have dated if not for the actor’s dedication to Scientology, according to a new biography about the late singer.
In his book A Little More Love: The Life and Legacy of Olivia Newton-John, author Matthew Hild describes a conversation the Australian icon allegedly had with a musician who was in her band and was married to a Scientologist.
“I know that the Church of Scientology really respects (Travolta) as a very valued believer,” Newton-John began, according to an excerpt of the biography obtained by People magazine ahead of Thursday’s publication. “If I had married John, would he have expected me to become a Scientologist?”
Bandmates, who described his Grease co-stars as “very, very close” and “almost close,” reportedly told Newton-John that converting “wouldn’t have been forced” but “would have been encouraged.”
“Thank you,” the “Honestly I Love You” singer replied, according to Hild’s book. “That’s all I want to know.”
Newton-John and Travolta first met in a screen test for Grease shortly before filming began in the summer of 1977.
The “If Not For You” hitmaker played the sweet-natured Sandy Olson opposite Travolta’s leather-clad Danny Zuko in the iconic 1978 musical rom-com.
Although the two shared an undeniable chemistry in their roles, Newton-John explained in a 2018 interview why they didn’t date behind the scenes of Grease.
“We were both with other people during filming, and out of respect, I don’t think that happened,” she explained on the No Filter podcast four years before her death.
“I think that was good, because I think it kept the tension and the chemistry together. If we hadn’t decided to date or had a falling out or something, it could have been a real disaster,” Newton-John added. “So I’m glad that didn’t happen.”
Still, Newton-John and Travolta remained good friends and reunited on screen in 1983’s Two of a Kind.
Meanwhile, the “Physical” singer married actor Matt Lattanzi in 1984, and the couple had a daughter, Chloe, before divorcing in 1995.
Newton-John then had a long, on-again, off-again relationship with photographer Patrick McDermott before re-marrying businessman John Easterling in 2008. She and Easterling were still married at the time of her death in 2022.
As for Travolta, the 72-year-old “Pulp Fiction” star married actress Kelly Preston in 1991.
The couple had three children before Preston passed away in 2020 at the age of 57 after a private two-year battle with breast cancer.
After Newton-John passed away from breast cancer in 2022 at the age of 73, Travolta posted a tender tribute to his former co-star on Instagram.
“Dear Olivia, you have made our lives so much better,” he wrote. “Your influence has been incredible. I love you so much. I will see you again someday, and we will come together again.”
Travolta added, “From the moment I first saw you, I’ll always be yours! Your Danny, your John!”
The “Saturday Night Fever” star once again remembered Newton-John with a touching eulogy during the memorial section of the 2023 Academy Awards.
