Biographer Matthew Hild on the life and legacy of Olivia Newton-John

from WABE Arts · host WABE

🎭 Georgia Tech historian Matthew Hild spent years researching the woman behind the pop star — and he argues the most iconic thing Olivia Newton-John ever did wasn’t star in “Grease” or sing “Physical.” It was the cancer treatment center she fought to build in Australia, which now draws patients from around the world. Hild talks with WABE Arts and Culture Editor Sherri Daye Scott about why John Travolta compared Newton-John’s star power to Taylor Swift’s, how “Grease” erased her country music legacy, and the Atlanta ties that thread through her story. 🎵 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 14, 2026

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Biographer Matthew Hild on the life and legacy of Olivia Newton-John

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