10 Fun Facts About Olivia Newton-John's "Hopelessly Devoted To You"

1 / 10

Olivia Newton-John

The hit song "Hopelessly Devoted to You," from 'Grease', was actually not a part of the original Broadway musical's soundtrack. It was, however, included as part of star Olivia Newton-John's contract, because the "Sandy Olsson" actress wanted to sing a ballad.

2 / 10

Olivia Newton-John y John Travolta

Though none of the 'Grease' cast were actually teenagers, Olivia Newton-John especially felt no one would accept her forming an on-screen couple with John Travolta. He was 23 and she was 29 when they filmed the soon-to-be hit musical.

3 / 10

Olivia Newton-John

"Hopelessly Devoted to You" was written by John Farrar in 1978. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song and even reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, charting there for two years!

4 / 10

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

For a moment, Grease nearly casted an entirely different "Sandy." Director Randal Kleiser, a friend of George Lucas, was excited about Carrie Fisher for the role. But in the end he decided on Olivia Newton-John because she had better chemistry with John Travolta.

5 / 10

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

Newton-John's Grease hit has since been covered by many artists. These versions show the film's global reach, with '90s covers coming in Chinese and Spanish, to name just a few. The song was also the title of an Australian miniseries about the singer, Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You.

6 / 10

Olivia Newton-John

After many years, "Hopelessly Devoted to You" was officially included in the musical Grease: Live and was sung by Julianne Hough in 2016.

7 / 10

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

Grease was the highest-grossing film of 1978 and the most successful musical in American history until the premiere of the live-action Beauty and the Beast remake in 2017.

8 / 10

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

Olivia Newton-John bravely faced a battle with breast cancer, and her Grease co-star and friend, John Travolta, had always been there to support her. However, she passed away in 2022.

9 / 10

10 Fun Facts About Olivia Newton-John's "Hopelessly Devoted To You" John Travolta Grease song music soundtrack

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

Filming of "Hopelessly Devoted to You" was done a month after the official Grease shoot ended. The director was unhappy with the result, but there was no additional time to reshoot it.

10 / 10

'Grease' Cast

Certain Grease scenes, like the school dance, took weeks to shoot, but the final song at the fair was shot in a single afternoon. The director told Olivia Newton-John that she could dress however she wanted. She chose fitted pants so tight they actually tore several times during filming. The cast's reactions to "Sandy" are real because no one knew the type of outfit she would appear in.

Olivia Newton-John "Hopelessly Devoted to You" - 10 Fun Facts

Grease is a comedy set in the '50s, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the story of young love between "Danny Zuko" and "Sandy Olsson." Through song and dance, the pair relates their experiences with their group of friends.

One of the most memorable songs in the film is undoubtedly the ballad "Hopelessly Devoted to You," sung by Olivia Newton-John. Here, we'll break down 10 facts that you surely did not know about the classic song.

More about
John Travolta