Olivia Newton-John pays tribute to Kelly Preston as she launches cancer foundation
Olivia Newton-John has shared kind, heartfelt words about pal and former co-star John Travolta’s late wife Kelly Preston, who died in July following a cancer battle
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Olivia Newton-John has recalled the “radiant, beautiful light” of Kelly Preston, John Travolta’s late wife who died in July from cancer.
Mum-of-three Kelly, who was 57 when she died, had battled breast cancer in secret for two years.
And John, 66, recently paid tribute to his beloved on what would have been her 58th birthday.
Now John’s Grease co-star and longtime friend Olivia Newton-John, 72, has told what Kelly meant to her.
The Australian actress, who’s had breast cancer herself, recalled that Kelly and John kept her diagnosis “to themselves” and that it had been “a very private thing” for the couple.
Olivia revealed earlier this year that her tumours “are receding or they’re going away or they’re staying the same”, which is “pretty amazing.”
Speaking on PEOPLE (The TV Show!), Olivia branded Kelly “a beautiful, radiant light in the world”, and that John is doing “as well as it can be expected when you just lost your love, your wife and the mother of your children.”
John and Kelly share Ella, 20, and Benjamin, nine, their other son Jett sadly dying aged 16 in 2009.
Kelly’s younger half-brother Chris Palzis confirmed that her family were by her side when she died in Clearwater, Florida, on July 12.
Cancer is something very close to Olivia’s heart, driving her to set up The Olivia Newton-John Foundation, which will fund the discovery of therapies for cancer.
And Kelly’s death has “really strengthened my resolve to form this foundation because I’ve lost way too many friends to cancer, family members and friends.
“Having lived with it, this is my dream. This is my passion to see a world beyond cancer.”
Olivia shared a tribute shortly after Kelly’s death, tweeting a photograph of the two of them together and penning: “Kelly was a radiant, warm and gentle spirit – a loving, devoted wife, mother and sweet friend.
“My heart breaks for John, Ella and Ben. No words can express my sorrow for her family.
“Kelly’s light shines on in her beautiful children.”
Yesterday was Kelly’s birthday, John marking the day by sharing a photo from their 1991 wedding day alongside on from his parents’.
“Happy Birthday hon!” he wrote.
“I found this photo of my mom and dad’s wedding. It was nice to see ours alongside theirs.
“All my love, John.”
After she died, John shared: “It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer.
“She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.
“My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side.
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