A steamy kiss shared by Grease stars Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta at the 1978 film premiere after-party fueled intense speculation about their off-screen relationship. Fans wondered if the on-screen chemistry between Danny and Sandy extended to real life.
Public Teasing and Early Denials
In 1983, the pair appeared hand-in-hand on Joan Rivers’ show, prompting thunderous applause. Rivers remarked, ‘You look great together. Are you an item?’ Travolta replied, ‘Yes,’ sparking Newton-John’s giggle, before clarifying, ‘The truth is, we were both involved with other people. So it never happened.’
However, a recent biography, A Little More Love: The Life and Legacy of Olivia Newton-John by Matthew Hild, paints a different picture. It reveals the co-stars developed a genuine romance during production of the 1978 blockbuster.
Marriage Considered but Faith Intervened
Newton-John, deeply enamored, even pondered marriage. Yet Travolta’s devotion to Scientology—after converting from Catholicism in 1975 at age 21—proved a major hurdle. Over two decades later, she confided in a band musician married to a Scientologist, asking, ‘I know the Church of Scientology really reveres him as a very valuable follower. If I had married John, would he have expected me to become a Scientologist?’
The musician responded, ‘It would not have been mandatory, but it would have been encouraged.’ Newton-John replied, ‘Thank you. That’s all I want to know.’ Scientology permits marriages to non-members unless they oppose the church as a ‘Suppressive Person.’ Similar faith-related strains affected other celebrity unions, including Tom Cruise’s divorces from Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes.
Undeniable On-Set Sparks
Their attraction was immediate. Newton-John wrote in her 2019 memoir Don’t Stop Believin’, ‘When we walked inside the room together, it was magic, and everyone saw it. Yes, we really liked each other and there was an attraction, but we would never date because we were both involved with other people at the time and both of us have a loyalty streak that runs deep.’
Co-star Didi Conn, who played Frenchy, observed Travolta’s clear interest. She noted the film’s early kiss scene where Sandy pulls away, with no further on-screen kisses until director Randal Kleiser filmed an alternate ending. In it, Danny pulls Sandy close for a passionate kiss. Conn said, ‘They weren’t acting in that moment… It was real.’
Lifelong Bond Amid Denials
Newton-John later reflected, ‘There’s a safety I feel when I’m with him. He’s always been my protector.’ Travolta echoed in her memoir, ‘It almost happened between us a few times, but it didn’t. Sometimes life just offers you the wrong timing. We had to leave it as dear friends.’
Travolta, known for romances with co-stars like Diana Hyland and Marilu Henner during Grease, insisted on Newton-John’s casting. He told Vanity Fair in 2016, ‘She had a brilliant voice… I never let up on it. I insisted that she be met, and that we cast her.’
Their friendship endured. Newton-John married Matt Lattanzi (1984-1995), father of daughter Chloe, and later John Easterling (2008-2022). Travolta wed Kelly Preston (1991-2020). They reunited for Two of a Kind (1983) and later projects, with Newton-John stating in 2018, ‘We did something life-changing… We’ve stayed friends ever since.’ Travolta added, ‘When you share that kind of meteoric success… you share a bond.’
