Olivia is lonely and abandoned
Translation
Olivia Newton-John is in a funk! While the pop star's health may be improving, her personal and professional life is in total chaos! Livvy is having a falling out with everyone: her boyfriend Lee Kramer, her record label, and powerful Hollywood producer Alan Carr!
Olivia Newton-John is fighting for her future, we wrote in the last issue. A lot has changed for the two-time POP Hammer Award winner in the meantime – unfortunately, for the worse!
Livvy has clashed with almost everyone who played a major role in her global success. Olivia has dumped her boyfriend and manager Lee Kramer! Olivia is suing her record company!
Olivia has fallen out with “Grease” producer Alan Carr! The question is obvious: What’s next for the singer and film actress?
After six years, Lee Kramer's relationship came to a bitter end!
Even on their last European tour, Olivia and Lee Kramer appeared to be a loving couple. Olivia’s boyfriend and manager never let his golden girl out of their sight.
Now, after six years of bliss, Livvy called it quits and separated from Lee. Olivia and Lee had met in London in 1973. Olivia had just ended her five-year romance with Shadows guitarist Bruce Welch. Lee was a shoe salesman in a boutique where Olivia used to shop. The lovers emigrated to America together. Together, the two pursued careers in the land of opportunity. Olivia as a singer/film actress, Lee as her manager.
Olivia Newton-John: "I've only had two serious affairs in my life!"
Rumors about an impending wedding between the two have circulated with considerable regularity in recent years.
After all, Olivia had stated several times on American TV shows that she would like to have children before she turns 35. At 30, she doesn’t have much time left for that. And who would be the father? Lee Kramer, in any case, has little hope after the separation.
True, things have been sour between Newton-John and Kramer on a few occasions. Olivia then demonstratively appeared with other men. But Livvy always returned to Lee’s arms. And it sounds convincing when Olivia claims: “I’ve only had two serious affairs in my life: with Bruce Weich and Lee Kramer!”
But now the spark between Olivia and Lee seems to have finally died out.
Could Olivia’s fear of marriage be related to the fact that she had to watch her parents get divorced as an 11-year-old girl? Sister Rona isn’t a shining example for Olivia either: Rona is 36… and already divorced twice!
The lawsuit against her record company could cost Olivia a lot of money!
Olivia’s campaign against her record company, MCA, is nothing new. The singer has long complained that she feels pushed into a dead end. But now the simmering dispute has reached a new peak. Olivia is marching to court to get out of her contract.
A spokesperson for the powerful MCA on the status of the negotiations: “I am not allowed to comment on the legal aspect. However, Miss Newton-John is still under contract with us for another three years and has to record several more albums for us!”
Would the record company put up with an unhappy Olivia? Probably, because for MCA, the singer is a bombshell business. Over 2 million records of Olivia’s last album, “Totally Hot,” have been sold in America since February 1979.
Since arriving in the USA six years ago, the singer has earned six platinum and three gold albums, as well as seven gold and one platinum singles.
Given this record, it’s clear that MCA isn’t going to make any concessions. Olivia’s only chance might be to use her “Grease” millions to buy her way out of the contract. That would, of course, cost Livvy a fortune!
"Grease" producer Alan Carr: "Olivia is by no means the second Streisand!"
Olivia’s falling out with Alan Carr came as a complete surprise! Carr, known for his lavish parties and flowing gowns, is considered one of the most influential producers in Hollywood today.
The heavyset Carr and Olivia met at a party in the summer of 1977. Carr was in the middle of pre-production for “Grease.” John Travolta had been cast as the male lead. The female lead was still available. Names like Ann-Margret, Marie Osmond, and Susan Dey (of The Partridge Family fame) were up for discussion.
Then Carr met Olivia Newton-John. The rest is film history! Carr earned 20 million dollars with “Grease”, and Olivia, who had been content with a starting fee of 125,000 dollars, brought in around 10 million dollars through a percentage of the profits.
It was clear that the successful duo Carr/Newton-John immediately made new plans. A film adaptation of the musical “Lilio” was under discussion.
A month after Olivia’s collapse on April 9th of this year, Alan Carr had made his decision. Olivia was to play the lead role alongside the Village People in “Discoland… Where The Music Never Ends”.
Two weeks later, however, a dry press release announced that Valerie Perrine would be starring in the 12 million dollar film instead of Olivia Newton-John.
Valerie, five years older than Olivia, had made a name for herself with films such as “W.C. Fields & Me” (with Rod Steiger), “Mr. Billion” (with Terence Hill) and “Lenny” (with Dustin Hoffman) made a name for herself. Despite Valerie Perrine’s undisputed talent, everyone in Hollywood wondered why superstar Olivia Newton-John had been so succinctly ousted.
Alan Carr commented: “Olivia Newton-John’s demands are as presumptuous as Barbra Streisand’s after her first film hit. But that doesn’t make Miss Newton-John a second Streisand!”
To which Olivia countered: “I’m really shocked. I thought Alan and I were friends!”
With the bombshell role alongside Village People ruined, the split from Lee Kramer, her friend, manager, and advisor in every situation, and the bitter battles with her record company’s lawyers, Olivia Newton-John’s future doesn’t look very rosy at the moment.
Having barely recovered from her serious viral infection, the delicate and sensitive singer has to wrestle with friend and foe. Let’s hope Livvy doesn’t lose it!
Photo captions:
Radiant, happy and successful - at her last German performance in Hamburg, Olivia was bid farewell with flowers and thunderous applause
Livvy also appeared friendly, relaxed and calm at the press conferences.
A picture from days gone by! In July, Olivia dumped her boyfriend and manager Lee Kramer after more than six years of dating. Was this time it final?
When will we see Olivia laughing heartily in public again? The two-time POP Award winner is still hiding out on her ranch in Malibu, California.
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the blockbuster film “Grease”! Has Livvy developed delusions of grandeur after the global success of “Grease”?
After splitting up with her boyfriend Lee, are Olivia’s animals the only things left? Olivia has always gotten along very well with her two cats, seven horses, and five dogs. This fanatical animal lover immediately takes to the barricades when animals like whales or baby seals are threatened with brutal extermination for financial gain.
Editor’s note: “Discoland” is to be later titled “Can’t Stop The Music”