Eurovision 1974 entrant and ‘Grease’ star, Olivia Newton-John, has been awarded a damehood in the 2020 New Year’s Honours list in the United Kingdom. She has received her damehood for services to music, cancer research and charity.
“Excited, honoured and grateful beyond words”
Olivia Newton-John released her first solo album in 1971, and three years later took part in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton. Despite not winning the contest, she went on to star in the smash musical hit, Grease, as Sandy Olsson alongside John Travolta as Danny Zuko.
Olivia Newton-John appears on the New Year’s Honours list alongside the likes of Sir Elton John joining the elite companions of honour, cricketer Ben Stokes being awarded an OBE and Queen drummer Roger Taylor also receiving in an OBE.
Newton-John, who receives her damehood for her services to music, cancer research and charity, said that:
I am extremely excited, honoured and grateful beyond words to be included with such an esteemed group of women who have received this distinguished award before me.
– Olivia Newton-John on receiving her damehood
Olivia-Newton John at the Eurovision Song Contest
Olivia-Newton John represented the United Kingdom at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest on home ground at the Brighton Dome. Her song, “Long Live Love”, finished in joint 4th place with 14 points (joint with Luxembourg and Monaco). Newton-John was snubbed of the top 3 by the Netherlands’ Mouth & MacNeal, Italy’s Gigliola Cinquetti and Sweden’s ABBA, who like Newton-John, went on to have worldwide success including 9 UK number 1 singles.
“Long Live Love” reached a peak of number 11 on the UK charts but she did go on to have three UK number ones – “You’re The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights”, both with John Travolta from Grease, and her 1980 hit “Xanadu”.
All the team at ESCXTRA.com would like to congratulate Olivia Newton-John on her damehood, after her success at Eurovision in the 1970s!
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