A healthy lifestyle can mitigate genetic risk for early death by 62%, study suggests
Even if your genetics put you at greater risk for early death, a healthy lifestyle could help you significantly combat it, according to a new study.
Although she is best known for her role as Sandy in the blockbuster musical “Grease,” Olivia Newton-John, who died at the age of 73 on Monday, had a career that extended far beyond the dramas of Rydell High and Danny Zuko.
The British-born, Australian-bred singer and actress dominated music charts throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, and her passing leaves behind a legacy of performance, music, and advocacy.
Here’s a breakdown of some of Newton-John’s most notable career contributions.
Before Rydell High:
Originally born in England in 1948, Newton-John moved to Australia at the age of 5, and she first began performing on Australian TV shows as a teenager.
After winning a talent contest on a TV show titled “Sing, Sing, Sing,” she formed an all-girl group which began regularly appearing on Australian pop-music programs.
Her first single was released in 1966, but she only began gaining popularity in 1973 -- when her hit “Let Me Be There” soared to the top of both country and adult contemporary charts and won a Grammy.
Other hits included songs like, “I Honestly Love You,” “Please Mr. Please,” and “Have You Never Been Mellow.”
After Rydell High:
The 1978 release of “Grease” cleared the way for Newton-John to reach a wider audience -- and allowed the singer to take on a new persona.
Much like her role as the squeaky-clean Australian exchange student that ends the film in leather leggings, Newton-John’s content transitioned to an edgier tone.
Her 1981 hit “Physical” carried lyrics loaded with sexual innuendo that caused her music to be banned on numerous radio stations, according to Billboard.
The four-time Grammy-winning singer is credited with selling more than 100 million records over the course of her five-decade career.
Advocacy efforts
Aside from her influence in music and pop-culture entertainment, Newton-John carried out notable efforts in advocacy for breast cancer research and early detection.
"Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer,” her husband John Easterling said in a post.
“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.”
Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. As an effort to raise money for cancer research, she auctioned off countless items used from ‘Grease’ -- including her outfit in the finale number “You’re the One I Want,” which sold for over US$400,000.
Even if your genetics put you at greater risk for early death, a healthy lifestyle could help you significantly combat it, according to a new study.
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
You would be forgiven for thinking Christina Lauren's latest romance novel stars a hunky reimagining of Loblaw chairman Galen G. Weston.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Frito Lay Canada is recalling two of its most popular snacks due to a possible risk of salmonella contamination.
Ellen DeGeneres is reflecting on how her talk show came to an end in her newest Netflix special, 'Ellen's Last Stand ... Up Tour.'
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'