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'Will remain hopelessly devoted': John Travolta breaks down as he pays tribute to Olivia Newton-John during Oscars 2023 ‘In Memoriam’

The star choked up and struggled to finish his sentence before collecting himself and introducing Lenny Kravitz to the stage

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: At this year's Oscars, John Travolta gave a touching tribute to his dear friend and former 'Grease' co-star, Olivia Newton-John, during the 'In Memoriam' segment. While honoring Hollywood's greatest stars who passed away last year, the 69-year-old actor almost broke down in tears as he asked the audience and viewers to remember his peers in the entertainment industry who are no longer with us. "They've touched our hearts, they've made us smile, and became dear friends, who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to," Travolta said with a quavering voice, after nodding to Newton-John's 1978 ballad hit, sung by her character Sandy in their iconic musical rom-com.

Struggling to hold back tears, the star's voice quavered as he welcomed Lenny Kravitz to the stage, barely managing to finish his sentence. Kravitz, the 58-year-old singer, then gave a moving performance of his 2004 hit 'Calling All Angels' on the piano. As he played, a touching tribute video played on screen, commemorating the lives and legacies of industry professionals who passed away, including Ray Liotta, Angelo Badalamenti, Jean-Luc Goddard, Irene Cara, Julie Reichert, Burt Bacharach, Angela Lansbury, Mary Alice, James Caan, and Raquel Welch.

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What happened to Newton-John?

In August 2022, Newton-John passed away at the age of 73 after a long and public battle with cancer. The actress died peacefully at her home in Southern California, surrounded by loved ones. Her husband, John Easterling, shared the news of her passing on her Facebook page and requested privacy for the family during this difficult time. Olivia was an inspiration to many for over three decades, sharing her journey with breast cancer and raising awareness for the disease. Her commitment to plant medicine continued with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, which is dedicated to researching the intersection of plant medicine and cancer.

News of her passing was met with an outpouring of grief and love from fans around the world. Many paid tribute to the beloved actress and singer by laying flowers on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Travolta, who starred alongside Olivia in the iconic film 'Grease', was among the first to pay tribute to the actress. In an emotional Instagram post, he expressed his love for her and the impact she had on his life.

'Whew, that hits hard.'

Twitter was flooded with emotional reactions as viewers watched John Travolta pay tribute to his late friend and co-star Olivia Newton-John at the Oscars. One user expressed the impact of the moment, writing, "Watching John Travolta get choked up over Olivia Newton-John. Whew, that hits hard." Another viewer shared their admiration for Travolta's heartfelt tribute, stating, "John Travolta tearing up after saying 'we remain hopelessly devoted to you' is such a wonderful love letter to Olivia Newton-John and all the tremendous artists we lost this year."

Kevin Fallon also took to Twitter to express his emotions, admitting that he was caught off guard by the emotional moment, "I don't know why I didn't make the connection or see it coming, but John Travolta referencing Olivia Newton-John was a gut-punch." One user praised the strength of their friendship, writing, "Find yourself a friend in life who clearly loves you like John Travolta loved Olivia Newton-John," while another paid tribute to their iconic roles in 'Grease', "John Travolta nearly brought me to tears after he quoted 'Hopelessly Devoted To You' by Olivia Newton-John. I loved their friendship. They were phenomenal in 'Grease' (1978)."

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