The late Olivia Newton-John will be the subject of a still-untitled documentary coming to Netflix. In the meantime, a new book about the beloved singer, actress and philanthropist from author Matthew Hild, described as “an in-depth biography that closely examines the superstar’s multi-faceted career, personal life, advocacy, and legacy,” will arrive on May 14, 2026. The title, A Little More Love: The Life and Legacy of Olivia Newton-John, via Bloomsbury Academic, is available to order in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.

Noted music author Joel Selvin offered advance praise for the book. “At long last, the definitive biography Olivia Newton-John always deserved,” he wrote. “Matthew Hild follows the Australian pop star into the charts, into the movies, through her subsequent struggle to retain relevance, and her decline in health in a clear-eyed look at the life, loves, and music of one of the great pop vocalists of her time.”

Steve Binder, a veteran director of music specials (Elvis Presley’s 1968 comeback, ON-J’s own 1978 TV special for ABC, among many others), wrote, “If you were as curious as I was about Olivia’s entire life, Matthew Hild does an amazing job of filling in the blanks. Olivia is Australia’s gift to the world!”

After her initial success in the States with her cover of Bob Dylan’s “If Not For You” in 1971, the 22 year-old singer with the girl-next-door good looks hit a brief fallow period. However, executives at her label, MCA, were encouraged by some activity they had seen on country radio stations. “I didn’t know what country music was, to tell you the truth, until I came to America,” she’s quoted as telling a journalist. And while selecting songs for a new album, one in particular stood out. “When [producer] Bruce Welch played it for me, I knew, immediately, it was a catchy song. It was his idea of putting a [male] bass voice on it” as a counterpoint.

The song was “Let Me Be There” and it not only reached #7 on the U.S. country chart, it also became her first top 10 pop single, topping out at #6. She followed its success with four consecutive country-pop crossover smashes including such signature songs as “I Honestly Love You” and “Have You Never Been Mellow,” which became her first two #1 pop hits.

From the publisher’s blurb: Newton-John was one of the biggest and most iconic global pop stars in history with estimated record sales of over 100 million and starring roles in several films, topped by 1978’s Grease opposite John Travolta. Her 1981 hit “Physical” was ranked by Billboard as the most popular single of the 1980s. Behind all of this glitz and glamor was an extremely strong, kind, and resilient person with an unfailing, positive attitude in the face of personal tragedies and setbacks. For decades, she bravely and publicly battled breast cancer while continuing her career and advocated for environmental issues, animal rights, and LGBTQ+ rights.

This biography was based on extensive archival research and original interviews with many of her friends and associates. Author Hild provides many never-before-shared insights into the star’s life, including her humanitarianism and personal struggles, and dives deeply into her many famous records and lesser-known work, from her early start in Australia all the way to her last recording – a moving duet of “Jolene” with Dolly Parton. Newton-John died of cancer in 2022 at age 73.

The book’s author is a lecturer of history at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is the author of Arrow Through the Heart: The Biography of Andy Gibb.