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Don't Stop Believin'
With candor, humor, and warmth, legendary musician, actress, activist, and icon Olivia Newton-John reveals her life story—from her unforgettable rise to fame in the classic musical Grease to her passionate advocacy for health and wellness in light of her battles with cancer. Perfect for fans of Tina Turner’s My Love Story and Sally Field’s In Pieces, this international bestseller is an extraordinary can’t-miss memoir.
For more than five decades, Olivia Newton-John has been one of our most successful and adored entertainers. A four-time Grammy Award winner, she is one of the world’s bestselling recording artists of all time, with more than 100 million albums sold. Her starring roles in the iconic movies Grease and Xanadu catapulted her into super-stardom. Her appeal as a performer is timeless.
In addition to her music and screen successes, Olivia is perhaps best known for her strength, courage, and grace. After her own personal journeys with cancer, she has thrived and become an inspiration for millions around the world. A tireless advocate for countless charities, her true passion is as the founding champion of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Olivia has always radiated joy, hope, and compassion—determined to be a force for good in the world.
Now she is sharing her journey, from Melbourne schoolgirl to international superstar, in this deeply personal book. Warm, candid, and moving, Don’t Stop Believin' is Olivia Newton-John's story in her own words for the very first time.
For more than five decades, Olivia Newton-John has been one of our most successful and adored entertainers. A four-time Grammy Award winner, she is one of the world’s bestselling recording artists of all time, with more than 100 million albums sold. Her starring roles in the iconic movies Grease and Xanadu catapulted her into super-stardom. Her appeal as a performer is timeless.
In addition to her music and screen successes, Olivia is perhaps best known for her strength, courage, and grace. After her own personal journeys with cancer, she has thrived and become an inspiration for millions around the world. A tireless advocate for countless charities, her true passion is as the founding champion of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Olivia has always radiated joy, hope, and compassion—determined to be a force for good in the world.
Now she is sharing her journey, from Melbourne schoolgirl to international superstar, in this deeply personal book. Warm, candid, and moving, Don’t Stop Believin' is Olivia Newton-John's story in her own words for the very first time.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2019
319 people are currently reading
2996 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Newton-John
36 books105 followersDame Olivia Newton-John, AO, OBE was an English-Australian singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and activist. She was a four-time Grammy award winner who had amassed five number-one and ten other top ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, and two number-one Billboard 200 solo albums.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 431 reviews
August 10, 2022
Olivia has been my absolute favourite singer since I was 12 years old! I love all her songs. She has the voice of an angel. I listened to this audio book because Olivia herself narrated it. It was truly so beautiful just listening to her tell her life story. From her childhood to her rise to fame as a singer and actress to her humanitarian efforts to save the environment and her journey to win over cancer. Listening to her talk about her love for her daughter, Chloe and husband, John just warmed my heart. She is truly a kind, compassionate and inspiring person!
I especially enjoyed hearing about her friends and the funny and sad stories. When she talked about her friend Karen Carpenter's death you could feel her sense of loss and sadness. She even began to cry and it brought me to tears. The same when she spoke of her sister Rona's death. What an incredible human being she is. She works at such a positive mindset. Not only has she marked herself as one of the greatest singers of this time but also a great humanitarian for the planet and a champion for cancer awareness and wellbeing. I think even if you are not a fan (but who doesn't love Grease!) everyone should read this book. I think once you read it you will find yourself to be one! It's that inspiring!♥️
Remember...the wounded bird still sings
Remember...that faith has tiny wings
"Love Is Letting Go Of Fear"
Olivia Newton-John, 2006
I especially enjoyed hearing about her friends and the funny and sad stories. When she talked about her friend Karen Carpenter's death you could feel her sense of loss and sadness. She even began to cry and it brought me to tears. The same when she spoke of her sister Rona's death. What an incredible human being she is. She works at such a positive mindset. Not only has she marked herself as one of the greatest singers of this time but also a great humanitarian for the planet and a champion for cancer awareness and wellbeing. I think even if you are not a fan (but who doesn't love Grease!) everyone should read this book. I think once you read it you will find yourself to be one! It's that inspiring!♥️
Remember...the wounded bird still sings
Remember...that faith has tiny wings
"Love Is Letting Go Of Fear"
Olivia Newton-John, 2006
August 14, 2022
I bought the hard cover of this book and then found out that she was reading the audio book so I bought that too. And I am so glad that I did. I started it this morning and just finished it. What an incredible woman! Massively talented, strong and brave. An idol of mine since I was little I am even more in awe of her now. So many interesting stories, sad and emotional as well as inspiring. A fantastic read.
January 14, 2019
3.5 Stars
I grew up in a household that worshipped movie musicals, so Olivia Newton-John is a face and voice I’ve known well since childhood. As a fan of films such as Grease and Xanadu, I’ve always had a soft spot for Olivia, particularly as a successful Aussie, but I wouldn’t call myself an avid follower of her personal life beyond her more well known acting roles and musical achievements, and of course her courageous battle with breast cancer.
I figured reading Olivia’s autobiography - or rather, listening to it - would be a fun way to learn a few interesting tidbits about her life, loves, and professional endeavours. And this was exactly that.
Told chronologically, Olivia shares intimate details of her life, reminiscing on her childhood and early days as a singer, to her shot to stardom on stage and in film. Beyond the borders of her show biz career, Olivia also shares some of her personal highs and lows, in love, loss, and motherhood, and opens up about her fight with breast cancer and her continual journey in staying healthy and strong.
Olivia’s life story is one of a down-to-earth Aussie girl who has had some truly spectacular experiences in her long, illustrious life. I very much enjoyed reading (hearing) her story told first-hand and I highly recommend her personal narration.
I grew up in a household that worshipped movie musicals, so Olivia Newton-John is a face and voice I’ve known well since childhood. As a fan of films such as Grease and Xanadu, I’ve always had a soft spot for Olivia, particularly as a successful Aussie, but I wouldn’t call myself an avid follower of her personal life beyond her more well known acting roles and musical achievements, and of course her courageous battle with breast cancer.
I figured reading Olivia’s autobiography - or rather, listening to it - would be a fun way to learn a few interesting tidbits about her life, loves, and professional endeavours. And this was exactly that.
Told chronologically, Olivia shares intimate details of her life, reminiscing on her childhood and early days as a singer, to her shot to stardom on stage and in film. Beyond the borders of her show biz career, Olivia also shares some of her personal highs and lows, in love, loss, and motherhood, and opens up about her fight with breast cancer and her continual journey in staying healthy and strong.
Olivia’s life story is one of a down-to-earth Aussie girl who has had some truly spectacular experiences in her long, illustrious life. I very much enjoyed reading (hearing) her story told first-hand and I highly recommend her personal narration.
April 10, 2019
Sorry--this is not a good memoir. It's nothing but positive fluff with no substance to it. The stories are dripping with praise for everything and everyone, including herself and the things she has done. While many will find it uplifting, it certainly contains no insight into the singer other than that she has had many health problems, she chooses to use alternative means to treat those problems even though she keeps having bad health, and she married a guy who uses herbs and plants to give her mind-altering experiences.
The biggest problem with the book is the lack of including anything that we don't already know. At 300 pages, you would think there would be some interesting stories, but there might have been two pages in the whole memoir that had anything that was remotely interesting. And there were probably only two negative sentences in the whole thing as well.
Instead it comes across as a promotional piece for her concerts, her cancer center, and her husband's strange use of South American herbs. I wouldn't trust anything she or he recommended after reading this book--they are too fringe. Add to that the fact that she is rich and has traveled the world in search of health solutions, something most of us can't do, and she comes across as out of touch. Also, her life philosophy seems unrealistic for an average person--it's easy for her to only push positivity when she is wealthy and makes money off that image. In truth there are a lot of potentially dark chapters that could have been written but she just pretends like they never happened or doesn't want to admit the truth.
There's almost nothing in the book about her daughter (Olivia fails to address the very public rumors about the daughter), her disappearing lover (only two positive pages that slam false media sightings), and her first husband (vowing not to say anything negative about her daughter's dad). She gives one-sentence and one-paragraph mentions of famous people she encounters, but there aren't really any stories about them. John Travolta gets a giant Valentine here but there is nothing that will pull back the very hidden curtain in his life. Namely, she plays it safe with everything and everyone.
The one big thing I came away with is that she's not Australian by birth, but actually was born in England and raised there her early years. She doesn't ever explain how she is considered Australian when she only lived there ten years before going back to England and then moved to America. She appears to have homes all over but at one point says she can't vote for the U.S. president, even though she praises a few.
As a person who has dealt with cancer, I appreciate a person being upbeat about life and the future. But if you fail to ignore facts and just think the power of positive thinking is going to change everything, you're no better than using black magic for healing. It's not that it doesn't work for some, but alone it won't give people the help they need.
So this incomplete picture of Newton-John's life, especially her relationships and health issues, may do a disservice by making people think the answer is to just pretend that everything is going to be fine or giving people with very serious conditions false hope with simplistic solutions that go against the advice of modern medicine. Positive is good as long as it's combined with reality, and this book only seems to have the positive part without the reality.
The biggest problem with the book is the lack of including anything that we don't already know. At 300 pages, you would think there would be some interesting stories, but there might have been two pages in the whole memoir that had anything that was remotely interesting. And there were probably only two negative sentences in the whole thing as well.
Instead it comes across as a promotional piece for her concerts, her cancer center, and her husband's strange use of South American herbs. I wouldn't trust anything she or he recommended after reading this book--they are too fringe. Add to that the fact that she is rich and has traveled the world in search of health solutions, something most of us can't do, and she comes across as out of touch. Also, her life philosophy seems unrealistic for an average person--it's easy for her to only push positivity when she is wealthy and makes money off that image. In truth there are a lot of potentially dark chapters that could have been written but she just pretends like they never happened or doesn't want to admit the truth.
There's almost nothing in the book about her daughter (Olivia fails to address the very public rumors about the daughter), her disappearing lover (only two positive pages that slam false media sightings), and her first husband (vowing not to say anything negative about her daughter's dad). She gives one-sentence and one-paragraph mentions of famous people she encounters, but there aren't really any stories about them. John Travolta gets a giant Valentine here but there is nothing that will pull back the very hidden curtain in his life. Namely, she plays it safe with everything and everyone.
The one big thing I came away with is that she's not Australian by birth, but actually was born in England and raised there her early years. She doesn't ever explain how she is considered Australian when she only lived there ten years before going back to England and then moved to America. She appears to have homes all over but at one point says she can't vote for the U.S. president, even though she praises a few.
As a person who has dealt with cancer, I appreciate a person being upbeat about life and the future. But if you fail to ignore facts and just think the power of positive thinking is going to change everything, you're no better than using black magic for healing. It's not that it doesn't work for some, but alone it won't give people the help they need.
So this incomplete picture of Newton-John's life, especially her relationships and health issues, may do a disservice by making people think the answer is to just pretend that everything is going to be fine or giving people with very serious conditions false hope with simplistic solutions that go against the advice of modern medicine. Positive is good as long as it's combined with reality, and this book only seems to have the positive part without the reality.
February 23, 2022
Audio version. Beautifully narrated by Olivia ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
A memoir of Australia’s sweetheart, Olivia Newton-John.
I have adored Livvy from the first time I heard If Not For You, Banks Of The Ohio, Have You Never Been Mellow and when I saw her in Grease I was mesmerised.
She’s beautiful, genuine, strong, caring and sings like an angel… need I say more!
A memoir of Australia’s sweetheart, Olivia Newton-John.
I have adored Livvy from the first time I heard If Not For You, Banks Of The Ohio, Have You Never Been Mellow and when I saw her in Grease I was mesmerised.
She’s beautiful, genuine, strong, caring and sings like an angel… need I say more!
October 16, 2018
I'm a huge fan of Olivia Newton-John and have long followed her career, listened to her music, seen her films and even once had the opportunity to meet her. She is a great entertainer, a wonderful Australian, passionate about her causes and her interests and seems to be one of the nicest people out there.
Unfortunately though she is not much of an autobiographer. This is not to say that 'Don't Stop Believin' is a bad read, or that her prose is tedious, uninteresting, vapid. However, generally there is a superficial simplicity to her prose that just doesn't elevate her story above the level of an expanded article in a mass market magazine. This is no 'Extreme Honey' from Elvis Costello or other more complex and articulate artist's autobiography. It is a reasonable good tale told with the author's heart on her sleeve, but it will really only appeal to Olivia's fans.
For me the most enjoyable parts of the book was reading about Olivia's early life and career, including some interesting insights into her family history and her time in Melbourne and the UK before cracking the big time in (around) 1970. I was particularly keen to see what Olivia had to say about her work on 'Xanadu' and her collaboration with Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra, and that was given some attention that mostly satisfied.
However the closing chapters of the book were not that engaging for me as Olivia waxed rhapsodically about her current husband and her new age beliefs and health interests. Don't get me wrong; I can respect her for forming these key relationships and ideas in her life. She has gone through some seriously ordinary life experiences. However for me it was just a bit 'away with the fairies' and not really the kind of material I would read if it had been written by someone else.
When it comes down to it, 'Don't Stop Believin' is an adequate autobiography from Olivia Newton-John that will sell well and give her millions of fans something to be generally happy about. Will it appeal outside that demographic or become a landmark in the autobiography genre? Nah, I don't think so.
Unfortunately though she is not much of an autobiographer. This is not to say that 'Don't Stop Believin' is a bad read, or that her prose is tedious, uninteresting, vapid. However, generally there is a superficial simplicity to her prose that just doesn't elevate her story above the level of an expanded article in a mass market magazine. This is no 'Extreme Honey' from Elvis Costello or other more complex and articulate artist's autobiography. It is a reasonable good tale told with the author's heart on her sleeve, but it will really only appeal to Olivia's fans.
For me the most enjoyable parts of the book was reading about Olivia's early life and career, including some interesting insights into her family history and her time in Melbourne and the UK before cracking the big time in (around) 1970. I was particularly keen to see what Olivia had to say about her work on 'Xanadu' and her collaboration with Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra, and that was given some attention that mostly satisfied.
However the closing chapters of the book were not that engaging for me as Olivia waxed rhapsodically about her current husband and her new age beliefs and health interests. Don't get me wrong; I can respect her for forming these key relationships and ideas in her life. She has gone through some seriously ordinary life experiences. However for me it was just a bit 'away with the fairies' and not really the kind of material I would read if it had been written by someone else.
When it comes down to it, 'Don't Stop Believin' is an adequate autobiography from Olivia Newton-John that will sell well and give her millions of fans something to be generally happy about. Will it appeal outside that demographic or become a landmark in the autobiography genre? Nah, I don't think so.
December 1, 2019
Hard for me to imagine my childhood without the music of ONJ on repeat! Definitely not anything I’d recommend to anyone that wasn’t a fan, although her experiences with tragedy could prove valuable for others too. Not the juiciest memoir, and for some reason the presence of a ghost writer felt a little more prevalent than other celebrity tomes I’ve read.
April 11, 2019
Full disclosure—I read to page 255 then skimmed the rest. Too full of New Age looniness for me. I love Olivia, enjoy her music and movies, but this book was terrible and a disappointment. Contains little to no new information about her career in music and motion pictures and way too much about “healing energy” and “love and light.”
My opinion. I know others will feel differently.
My opinion. I know others will feel differently.
August 28, 2018
I received an advanced copy of this book.
Words cannot describe how good this book is. We all know that Olivia is a wordsmith with her songs and that has carried through to her biography. She forced tears to leak from my eyes through her stories about her life and the people around her. Olivia had a co-writer on this project with her but it is hard to imagine that someone else has captured her soul so perfectly.
We are exposed to her life through the ages, the good, the bad and the ugly. When you read some of what performers of Olivia's calibre put themselves through to give us a performance, it makes you love and respect them that little bit more. As you read, you can almost feel the pain that she went through in order to be the consummate professional. Coming to terms with her heartbreaks, in all of their different forms, she shares the personal side as opposed to that public side we have seen. These insights in to her life are like little snippets offering us a peek into what it means to be Olivia Newton-John.
What I loved about this story is that she doesn't dwell in the past. The hurt stays with her, yes, but life must go on and so she is constantly looking to the future. Her ability to deal with her third bout of cancer and still keep believing is awe-inspiring and shows what a great role model she is for people who are suffering and looking for some guidance. She points out that not all treatments and options are for all people but shares what works for her.
I think the thing that struck me the most about this book was how grateful Olivia is. She is grateful for the people in her life, the opportunities she has had as well as the experiences she has lived through. It is with grace that she has overcome or succeeded at what she does. She is one of those rare gems who is legitimately a good person whose soul believes in helping all life, be that person, animal or planet.
Don't Stop Believin' is for more than just Olivia Newton-John fans. It is for anyone who dared, it is for those who need guidance and positivity in their life. It is for cancer sufferers who would like to see a light but most importantly, it is for anyone who strives to be the best person they can be.
Words cannot describe how good this book is. We all know that Olivia is a wordsmith with her songs and that has carried through to her biography. She forced tears to leak from my eyes through her stories about her life and the people around her. Olivia had a co-writer on this project with her but it is hard to imagine that someone else has captured her soul so perfectly.
We are exposed to her life through the ages, the good, the bad and the ugly. When you read some of what performers of Olivia's calibre put themselves through to give us a performance, it makes you love and respect them that little bit more. As you read, you can almost feel the pain that she went through in order to be the consummate professional. Coming to terms with her heartbreaks, in all of their different forms, she shares the personal side as opposed to that public side we have seen. These insights in to her life are like little snippets offering us a peek into what it means to be Olivia Newton-John.
What I loved about this story is that she doesn't dwell in the past. The hurt stays with her, yes, but life must go on and so she is constantly looking to the future. Her ability to deal with her third bout of cancer and still keep believing is awe-inspiring and shows what a great role model she is for people who are suffering and looking for some guidance. She points out that not all treatments and options are for all people but shares what works for her.
I think the thing that struck me the most about this book was how grateful Olivia is. She is grateful for the people in her life, the opportunities she has had as well as the experiences she has lived through. It is with grace that she has overcome or succeeded at what she does. She is one of those rare gems who is legitimately a good person whose soul believes in helping all life, be that person, animal or planet.
Don't Stop Believin' is for more than just Olivia Newton-John fans. It is for anyone who dared, it is for those who need guidance and positivity in their life. It is for cancer sufferers who would like to see a light but most importantly, it is for anyone who strives to be the best person they can be.
Read
August 23, 2022I have been an Olivia Newton-John fangirl since the 70's. My sister and I had a poster on our wall that came with the "If You Love Me, Let Me Know" album. We practically wore our "Grease" soundtrack album out playing it over and over. And then there was "Xanadu" and Olivia continued in the public eye. If she had been performing near me, I would have gone to see her in a minute. So, after her passing, it seemed like a really good time to listen to her memoir. I want to thank my Goodreads friend Tina (who is even more of a die hard fan than I am) for posting a review on her account. In the book, Olivia tells about her life, years in the business, and several rounds of cancer. She has that fresh, girl-next-door voice that we know and love. There are some great stories about her parents, how she came to star in "Grease," her tap dance number with Gene Kelly, and more. If there is dirt to dish, it isn't coming from her -- not her story to tell. Her integrity shines through in every chapter. As does her love for her family, friends, and God's creation. I'm sorry I never got to meet her. It is obvious she was a light for many. *Review by Darla from Red Bridge*
May 21, 2022
Olivia’s positive attitude astounds me. Only she could see a fractured pelvis as a blessing, a gift. I really enjoyed listening to this, not just because of the uplifting quotes and positive vibes but because it was also very interesting for various different reasons. Olivia touches upon a whole host of subjects including illness and treatments and therefore her charity work and ONJ Hospital. She also talks about showbiz of course, her time on sets such as Grease with the lovely John Travolta. It was fun to hear about the making of Xanadu and I loved hearing about how passionate she still is to this day about singing and music in general. A heart warming listen from one of Australia’s true sweethearts! 5 stars from me 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
April 30, 2020
A very positive upbeat story of her life. She talks about her music, husbands, miscarriages, and her interest in natural healing. She built a wellness center and set up several animal rescues. The last few chapters were a little much with all the ideas of wellness but over all a good story.
April 3, 2019
I honestly love her. I am hopelessly devoted to her. But this book just didn’t do it for me. It was just meh. No real new and fun details on the making of Grease or Xanadu... no real background on recording the songs or how she felt about her biggest hits. It just felt like “I did this. Then I did this. Then I did this. It was wonderful. Then I did this.” The one or two examples where it felt like we were going to get some juicy dish, she wouldn’t even tell whom she was referring to. Then it got to be all about frou-frou holistic healing toward the end. Which is all fine and good. Just not the stuff of which page turners are made. Still love her. But this bio was a real let down.
June 14, 2020
Right readers, please don't scream at me for what I'm about to share. I've never seen the movie Grease *hides under a rock* I knowwwwwww, I'm boring. It will happen one day in my lifetime. I borrowed a library e-copy of this memoir on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised by Olivia's life story. I knew that she starred in Grease and also represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. But this memoir really started from the beginning of Olivia's life and worlds of music industries, travelling, marriage, divorce, being diagnosed with cancer. A heartwarming and sometimes sad read. Since completing this read, I have been listening to her music a lot more often!
June 11, 2019
I have loved Olivia Newton-John since the late 70's. My mom got me every album for Xmas or Bday gifts and I sang my heart out with my Mr Microphone (remember those?). Then "Grease" came out and I was obsessed! I saw it at the theater when most of you probably were babies or not even born. I know the movie and the music word for word!
I couldn't wait to hear her read this book to me via Libby audio app! Her voice is beautiful and calming and her story is amazing (she battled breast cancer 3x!) Her story is very uplifting and heartfelt. Highly recommend!
I couldn't wait to hear her read this book to me via Libby audio app! Her voice is beautiful and calming and her story is amazing (she battled breast cancer 3x!) Her story is very uplifting and heartfelt. Highly recommend!
February 24, 2024
Olivia Newton John’s biography “Don’t Stop Believin” was an amazing audiobook!! I have loved her since the 70’s and I sure loved hearing all about her life, especially with John Travolta who I also loved. Her life was cut way too short! What an awesome book this was! Especially since she was the narrator and her laughter shines through.
May 28, 2019
(This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
--
I was obsessed with Olivia Newton-John as a little girl. As a little girl, I knew all of her songs by heart, and I had watched all of her movies over and over. I do admit that as I grew up, my obsession faded. However, when I saw Olivia's autobiography, Don't Stop Believin', on the shelf at my local library, I decided to give it a read. While it was enjoyable, it just came across as kind of preachy.
Olivia Newton-John rose to fame in the United States as the character of Sandy in the movie Grease. She also had a bunch of hit songs and records afterwards. Olivia's autobiography does mention her rise to fame although I felt as if there wasn't enough time spent on her rise to fame. She does write about her time with Grease and other films as well as recording her songs throughout the book. I felt the movies and songs were written about well.
We get a taste of her life as a child in England and Australia, although I felt she didn't discuss her pre-fame life too much. I would have liked to read more about her childhood instead of just being rushed into when she started performing. I know Olivia Newton-John likes to keep her private life out of the limelight, but when writing an autobiography, it's important to give the reader a little more details than what Don't Stop Believin' gave us.
There was so much name dropping throughout this book! While I understand that famous people know other famous people, sometimes I felt as if Olivia was dropping names just for show instead of because it fit the story. You have a lot of famous friends. We get it!
Another thing that annoyed me about the book was how some parts seemed like an advertisement for her Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre as well as for her husband, John Easterling's, herb company. I know she's done so much for her cancer center, (which I give her mad props for), but she goes on and on about how great and lovely of a place it was especially after she was an inpatient there. Of course the staff would treat her better when her name is on the building! There's more than one chapter devoted to how great the place is. I'm sure it is lovely, but I felt like I didn't need to a chapter (and more) about how great it is. As for her husband's herb company, she went on and on towards the end of the book how his herbs really helped her out which is great, but again, does the reader really need the specifics and being told over and over again how helpful it was?
The major thing that annoyed me was how preachy Don't Stop Believin' was in a lot of chapters. In fact, it made me feel guilty sometimes that I rely on modern medicine. Olivia writes how she'd rather take the natural approach to fighting off viruses and diseases, and I get that because I don't like to take medicine needlessly either, but sometimes, it's the best thing. However, I just felt that Olivia was berating those who choose to go the medicinal route. I felt like she was implying that natural remedies work better than modern medicine. This can be dangerous especially if someone gets off their medicines they need to survive to try the natural approach. People should always discuss any changes of medication with their doctors.
To me, Don't Stop Believin' writes like someone who's always been privileged and sheltered throughout their life. A lot of it feels like Olivia Newton-John is out of touch with reality and like she's living in La-La Land. I just found it hard to relate to her throughout the book. Yes, she has gone through some hardships such as deaths in the family, her cancer diagnoses, and her ex-boyfriend disappearing, but for the most part, her autobiography is just too sunshine and rainbows for me to truly relate.
Don't Stop Believin' flows beautifully though, and the writing is done very well, so it has that going for it. I did find myself enjoying the book most of the time when Olivia wasn't been preachy or advertising something. There were some interesting tidbits about her life throughout the book.
Trigger warnings include some profanity use, death, cancer, drinking, and smoking.
Overall, Don't Stop Believin' isn't a bad book, quite the contrary. It's just a bit too hippie dippy for me to have truly enjoyed it to its fullest. I did find the book interesting though despite some flaws. I would recommend Don't Stop Believin' by Olivia Newton-John especially to those who have been diagnosed with cancer as this book does come with a bunch of positivity when it comes to dealing with cancer.
--
I was obsessed with Olivia Newton-John as a little girl. As a little girl, I knew all of her songs by heart, and I had watched all of her movies over and over. I do admit that as I grew up, my obsession faded. However, when I saw Olivia's autobiography, Don't Stop Believin', on the shelf at my local library, I decided to give it a read. While it was enjoyable, it just came across as kind of preachy.
Olivia Newton-John rose to fame in the United States as the character of Sandy in the movie Grease. She also had a bunch of hit songs and records afterwards. Olivia's autobiography does mention her rise to fame although I felt as if there wasn't enough time spent on her rise to fame. She does write about her time with Grease and other films as well as recording her songs throughout the book. I felt the movies and songs were written about well.
We get a taste of her life as a child in England and Australia, although I felt she didn't discuss her pre-fame life too much. I would have liked to read more about her childhood instead of just being rushed into when she started performing. I know Olivia Newton-John likes to keep her private life out of the limelight, but when writing an autobiography, it's important to give the reader a little more details than what Don't Stop Believin' gave us.
There was so much name dropping throughout this book! While I understand that famous people know other famous people, sometimes I felt as if Olivia was dropping names just for show instead of because it fit the story. You have a lot of famous friends. We get it!
Another thing that annoyed me about the book was how some parts seemed like an advertisement for her Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre as well as for her husband, John Easterling's, herb company. I know she's done so much for her cancer center, (which I give her mad props for), but she goes on and on about how great and lovely of a place it was especially after she was an inpatient there. Of course the staff would treat her better when her name is on the building! There's more than one chapter devoted to how great the place is. I'm sure it is lovely, but I felt like I didn't need to a chapter (and more) about how great it is. As for her husband's herb company, she went on and on towards the end of the book how his herbs really helped her out which is great, but again, does the reader really need the specifics and being told over and over again how helpful it was?
The major thing that annoyed me was how preachy Don't Stop Believin' was in a lot of chapters. In fact, it made me feel guilty sometimes that I rely on modern medicine. Olivia writes how she'd rather take the natural approach to fighting off viruses and diseases, and I get that because I don't like to take medicine needlessly either, but sometimes, it's the best thing. However, I just felt that Olivia was berating those who choose to go the medicinal route. I felt like she was implying that natural remedies work better than modern medicine. This can be dangerous especially if someone gets off their medicines they need to survive to try the natural approach. People should always discuss any changes of medication with their doctors.
To me, Don't Stop Believin' writes like someone who's always been privileged and sheltered throughout their life. A lot of it feels like Olivia Newton-John is out of touch with reality and like she's living in La-La Land. I just found it hard to relate to her throughout the book. Yes, she has gone through some hardships such as deaths in the family, her cancer diagnoses, and her ex-boyfriend disappearing, but for the most part, her autobiography is just too sunshine and rainbows for me to truly relate.
Don't Stop Believin' flows beautifully though, and the writing is done very well, so it has that going for it. I did find myself enjoying the book most of the time when Olivia wasn't been preachy or advertising something. There were some interesting tidbits about her life throughout the book.
Trigger warnings include some profanity use, death, cancer, drinking, and smoking.
Overall, Don't Stop Believin' isn't a bad book, quite the contrary. It's just a bit too hippie dippy for me to have truly enjoyed it to its fullest. I did find the book interesting though despite some flaws. I would recommend Don't Stop Believin' by Olivia Newton-John especially to those who have been diagnosed with cancer as this book does come with a bunch of positivity when it comes to dealing with cancer.
July 19, 2019
This is an uplifting book by one of the most likable entertainers of our time. It is a very positive read, free of mudslinging and sensationalism. If you're looking for inspiration and a more personal look at the life and career of ONJ, this book is for you. I recommend the audio version, read by Olivia Newton-John herself.
August 21, 2022
I picked this up after I heard she passed away and it was well worth the read. Olivia is a very down to earth, lovely, and kind human being. The fact that she spent her whole life caring and protecting animals says a lot. What a good soul we all lost.
January 27, 2020
2.5 stars ✨
December 3, 2025
An interesting and candid biography of one of my favourite artistes, detailing both her professional and personal life: what really stands out is her spirituality, her zest for life and her determination to live a full and happy life, which she did with a good complement of friends and family around her. She was clearly a wonderful person and her commitment to helping others shines through, both through the Cancer & Wellness Centre in Melbourne which she was instrumental in founding and through her approach to life in general. Her talent and attitude are sadly missed - 8.5/10.
August 22, 2021
I am a HUGE Olivia Newton John and Grease fan! I wasn’t surprised by Olivia’s sweet nature. Although she can be a little cringe/cheesy as my teenagers would say… I found it endearing. I love how she uses positive language to deal with her cancer and especially her life. I love that she has dedicated so much of her life to helping cancer research. For trying to help other people have the same benefits that money can buy that she was able to experience during her cancer story. I was also impressed that her book showed such a positive light on those around her. Not gossipy, not critical just kind. I know her daughter is has had some struggles and I loved that she didn’t broadcast or discuss those. She didn’t make herself a victim or her daughter a victim. I hope she continues on to find her peace. To continue her healing and growth.
September 10, 2018
An immersive, raw and incredibly inspiring memoir of England and Australia's singing sensation.
Olivia discusses the highs (Grease fame, numerous concerts and awards, her daughter Chloe's birth) to the dark times (cancer battles, difficult relationships and minor injuries whilst on tour) with her mantra being to "never give up" nomatter how hard life may get at times.
The best memoir I have read this year without a doubt- a truly amazing read!.
Olivia discusses the highs (Grease fame, numerous concerts and awards, her daughter Chloe's birth) to the dark times (cancer battles, difficult relationships and minor injuries whilst on tour) with her mantra being to "never give up" nomatter how hard life may get at times.
The best memoir I have read this year without a doubt- a truly amazing read!.
October 27, 2018
I've been a fan of Olivia's for forty years and can still sing a great many of her songs word-for-word because I sang them so many times in my younger years. It was great to read about all of her ups and downs in her own words. Very enjoyable.
October 6, 2018
I’ve learned a lot more about my favorite all time singer. She is truly a lovely lady and stayed true of who she was growing up thru out her career. You’ll see how very kind her heart is.
October 16, 2018
A great biography of a great lady. Very enjoyable read.
November 10, 2019
“Sometimes I think the difference between what we want and what we’re afraid of is about the width of an eyelash.” – Jay McInerney
“My music is going well; I’m not interested in making another movie….and I’m twenty-eight and too old for Sandy. I can’t do an American accent!”
These are the words that Olivia Newton-John said to a man at a dinner party, hosted by Helen Reddy and her husband Jeff. The man she was saying this to was none other than Allan Carr, the man who would go on to produce one of the most memorable and commercially successful musical films in the history of the genre.
Carr respectfully stays silent as the woman before him continues to try to convince him, (and probably herself), that she should not do take on this role. He holds his tongue, waiting for her to pause, and when she finally does, he tells her,
“I love your music…and you’re not too old…you look so young…”
He knew she’d be reluctant to act in another film, because he already knew her resume inside and out. Her previous films were mostly disastrous, yet her singing career was flourishing. This was going to be a hard sell, but in his gut Carr knew she was the one to play Sandy.
Soon the host couple, Helen and Jeff joining the conversation in an attempt to join Allan Carr in convincing the reluctant Australian songstress superstar that she would be right for the role, and more than that, the film itself, in their opinion would be a smash hit. They get as far as to convince Olivia to attend the London showing of the stage version of “Grease,” which Olivia attends and is delighted with.
Still, she’s not convinced. She decides that she’ll hit the road again with her songs, she’s doing very well, why take such a huge risk she asks herself, even though deep down inside something is nagging at her, she is secretly intrigued.
Then she finally decides to turn down the role. She would pass on “Grease.”
Sandy was someone else’s role.
And then something incredible happens….
Olivia recounts her amazing life in “Don’t Stop Believin’” with such a down-to-earth tone of optimism, hope, authenticity that I often forgot that the author was an iconic, internationally beloved star. Even when she spoke of her massive achievements, including “Record of the Year” for “I Honestly Love You” and “Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female” for “I Honesty Love You” the single at the 1975 Grammy Awards, or when the Country Music Association named her “Vocalist of the Year” in 1974, never did her tone change from an attitude of thankfulness and joy for the life she was given. A gift, she acknowledges over and over again. I was also impressed by how much time she spent telling us about the roles that so many others played into her successes.
I was also heartened as I realized how many pages of this book were dedicated to Olivia’s friends.
The one’s that stood out for me were her friendships with Pat Carroll, Susan George and Karen Carpenter! As I read Olivia’s heartfelt telling of how important these people were in her life, I realized that it was saying something about her character. I think the great Jane Austen said it best:
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it’s not in my nature.”
That was it, put so beautifully. I realized that this woman, like Jane, knew only how to love her friends fully, and without reservation. It sounds to me that Olivia is the kind of friend we all want to have, and that many of us like to believe we can be.
Olivia also relates her love of, and esteem for animals and the places they live in the countryside. The fact that she loved animals, in and of itself, was not surprising to me. What did was the breadth of animals she loved, from horses and dogs, the koala bears and kookaburras of her homeland and even a bit about magpies! I found these parts of her story very heartening.
I love when biographies include humor, and this one had a number of stories that made me laugh. The one I remember best had to do with a Mini-Minor van that two British Bobbies sized from Olivia and her friend Pat, and what followed!
And of course, I thought there might be the stories, painful and joyful, of the loves of this woman’s life, and they were there in all their variety as she encountered love at the various stages of her life. And even though there was heartbreak and several sour situations, Olivia seemed to find a way of honoring the best of each of these relationships as she told us about them.
One of the topics I was most interested in however, was Olivia’s rise to fame, and even though I’ve been an ardent “Olivia Fan” for many years, I realized how little I knew of the story of her ascendancy. She was the girl who got an F in sight-reading from her school music teacher, but who could, “carry a tune by the time she was two years old,” her mother tells us. She was the young lady who first found her love of performing for audiences at a impromptu coffee shop gig that lead to trying out on Australia’s then equivalent of “American Idol,” the “Kevin Dennis Audition,” where she sang the George Gershwin classic, “Summertime” to the delight of the judges.
These and other events led to the stage in Olivia’s life where she and her newly divorced mother move to London, a place they know nobody, right in the middle of the “Swinging Sixties,” I was amazed as I read of her mother, living in tiny, cramped apartments and sleeping in cots on the floor as her daughter Olivia and, later Olivia and her friend and former vocal coach Pat were working to establish their fledgling careers in the entertainment business.
And let me just say that reading of Olivia’s early European tours, as well as the story of her move to America and what happened there, especially in the early days were powerful testaments of the grit and determination that even the super-talented must go through to make it in this very hard business.
And there are other interesting stories that this great lady chose to share that read and felt like the kind of conversations you’d have with a good friend. I’ve read many biographies of many interesting people, very few of which would share stories about their enjoyment of things such as smells. But Olivia did, visiting and revisiting little stores of how she felt about certain smells and what they meant to her.
Amazing!
And then there was her telling of the cancer that invaded her body, the shock of this realization, and ultimately her decision to take on this terrible disease with an attitude of hope and joy. Her stories about this stage of her life were compelling and inspiring.
Perhaps even more impressive was the way she threw herself into the creation and development of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Center. It’s a world class facility that takes a “wellness driven” approach to helping patients heal. I was blown away by what this amazing woman achieved for so many people.
By the end of this memoir, I was encouraged and energized by Olivia’s story. A story that had me “believin’!”
“My music is going well; I’m not interested in making another movie….and I’m twenty-eight and too old for Sandy. I can’t do an American accent!”
These are the words that Olivia Newton-John said to a man at a dinner party, hosted by Helen Reddy and her husband Jeff. The man she was saying this to was none other than Allan Carr, the man who would go on to produce one of the most memorable and commercially successful musical films in the history of the genre.
Carr respectfully stays silent as the woman before him continues to try to convince him, (and probably herself), that she should not do take on this role. He holds his tongue, waiting for her to pause, and when she finally does, he tells her,
“I love your music…and you’re not too old…you look so young…”
He knew she’d be reluctant to act in another film, because he already knew her resume inside and out. Her previous films were mostly disastrous, yet her singing career was flourishing. This was going to be a hard sell, but in his gut Carr knew she was the one to play Sandy.
Soon the host couple, Helen and Jeff joining the conversation in an attempt to join Allan Carr in convincing the reluctant Australian songstress superstar that she would be right for the role, and more than that, the film itself, in their opinion would be a smash hit. They get as far as to convince Olivia to attend the London showing of the stage version of “Grease,” which Olivia attends and is delighted with.
Still, she’s not convinced. She decides that she’ll hit the road again with her songs, she’s doing very well, why take such a huge risk she asks herself, even though deep down inside something is nagging at her, she is secretly intrigued.
Then she finally decides to turn down the role. She would pass on “Grease.”
Sandy was someone else’s role.
And then something incredible happens….
Olivia recounts her amazing life in “Don’t Stop Believin’” with such a down-to-earth tone of optimism, hope, authenticity that I often forgot that the author was an iconic, internationally beloved star. Even when she spoke of her massive achievements, including “Record of the Year” for “I Honestly Love You” and “Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female” for “I Honesty Love You” the single at the 1975 Grammy Awards, or when the Country Music Association named her “Vocalist of the Year” in 1974, never did her tone change from an attitude of thankfulness and joy for the life she was given. A gift, she acknowledges over and over again. I was also impressed by how much time she spent telling us about the roles that so many others played into her successes.
I was also heartened as I realized how many pages of this book were dedicated to Olivia’s friends.
The one’s that stood out for me were her friendships with Pat Carroll, Susan George and Karen Carpenter! As I read Olivia’s heartfelt telling of how important these people were in her life, I realized that it was saying something about her character. I think the great Jane Austen said it best:
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it’s not in my nature.”
That was it, put so beautifully. I realized that this woman, like Jane, knew only how to love her friends fully, and without reservation. It sounds to me that Olivia is the kind of friend we all want to have, and that many of us like to believe we can be.
Olivia also relates her love of, and esteem for animals and the places they live in the countryside. The fact that she loved animals, in and of itself, was not surprising to me. What did was the breadth of animals she loved, from horses and dogs, the koala bears and kookaburras of her homeland and even a bit about magpies! I found these parts of her story very heartening.
I love when biographies include humor, and this one had a number of stories that made me laugh. The one I remember best had to do with a Mini-Minor van that two British Bobbies sized from Olivia and her friend Pat, and what followed!
And of course, I thought there might be the stories, painful and joyful, of the loves of this woman’s life, and they were there in all their variety as she encountered love at the various stages of her life. And even though there was heartbreak and several sour situations, Olivia seemed to find a way of honoring the best of each of these relationships as she told us about them.
One of the topics I was most interested in however, was Olivia’s rise to fame, and even though I’ve been an ardent “Olivia Fan” for many years, I realized how little I knew of the story of her ascendancy. She was the girl who got an F in sight-reading from her school music teacher, but who could, “carry a tune by the time she was two years old,” her mother tells us. She was the young lady who first found her love of performing for audiences at a impromptu coffee shop gig that lead to trying out on Australia’s then equivalent of “American Idol,” the “Kevin Dennis Audition,” where she sang the George Gershwin classic, “Summertime” to the delight of the judges.
These and other events led to the stage in Olivia’s life where she and her newly divorced mother move to London, a place they know nobody, right in the middle of the “Swinging Sixties,” I was amazed as I read of her mother, living in tiny, cramped apartments and sleeping in cots on the floor as her daughter Olivia and, later Olivia and her friend and former vocal coach Pat were working to establish their fledgling careers in the entertainment business.
And let me just say that reading of Olivia’s early European tours, as well as the story of her move to America and what happened there, especially in the early days were powerful testaments of the grit and determination that even the super-talented must go through to make it in this very hard business.
And there are other interesting stories that this great lady chose to share that read and felt like the kind of conversations you’d have with a good friend. I’ve read many biographies of many interesting people, very few of which would share stories about their enjoyment of things such as smells. But Olivia did, visiting and revisiting little stores of how she felt about certain smells and what they meant to her.
Amazing!
And then there was her telling of the cancer that invaded her body, the shock of this realization, and ultimately her decision to take on this terrible disease with an attitude of hope and joy. Her stories about this stage of her life were compelling and inspiring.
Perhaps even more impressive was the way she threw herself into the creation and development of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Center. It’s a world class facility that takes a “wellness driven” approach to helping patients heal. I was blown away by what this amazing woman achieved for so many people.
By the end of this memoir, I was encouraged and energized by Olivia’s story. A story that had me “believin’!”
April 2, 2019
I was a fan of Olivia's back in the day and I really liked Grease and Xanadu but then I sort of lost track of her. It was good to read the book and her stories of her life in the spotlight and her charity work. She is also very open about her 3 bouts of cancer. The latest one has been the most debilitating and she is still fighting it. This isn't the best memoir I've read but it is still worth reading. Some parts are sort of woo-woo but mostly it is an easy read. It is written by her and an assistant so it is in her voice.
September 15, 2018
Having been a fan of ONJ for my whole life, and with Grease being my all time favourite movie, I was so excited when I found out Olivia was finally releasing a memoir!
This book truly took me on an emotional roller coaster- from being in tears, to laughing as Olivia shared the story of her highest of highs and lowest of lows! All through it all, she really shows that she truly lives by the statement ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’
What an amazing woman!
This book truly took me on an emotional roller coaster- from being in tears, to laughing as Olivia shared the story of her highest of highs and lowest of lows! All through it all, she really shows that she truly lives by the statement ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’
What an amazing woman!
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