by Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY
Grease stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John are going to make some beautiful music together.
This
time it's for a Christmas album, and they plan to include 13 tracks,
with featured guest singers. Among them: Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett,
James Taylor, Chick Corea and Kenny G.
The idea for the
collection came from Travolta after he received a holiday season text
from Newton-John noting that their 1978 smash, You're the One That I Want,
had just become the best-selling duet in pop music history. "From the
moment we decided to do this, magic happened," says Travolta. "Everyone
we contacted agreed to do it."
Adds Newton-John in the
release, "With our busy schedules, I don't know how we got it done. John
and I have always connected. That's never gone away. When we're
together, we have a good laugh and feel bonded to one another. We've
been through some amazing experiences together."
In addition to stars singing more classic seasonal fare, one of the highlights of the album is the one original song, I Think You Might Like It, a sequel to the Grease smash You're the One That I Want. It's a new tune by that song's writer/producer John Farrar.
"My desire was to make This Christmas
an intimate album, not something too ostentatious or showy," says
Travolta. "I wanted people to be able to play it around the house or in
the car during the holidays, and make us part of your celebration."
Travolta
and Newton-John will donate the artist proceeds from the album equally
to the Jett Travolta Foundation, to combat children's disabilities,
including autism and seizures, and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and
Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia.
This Christmas will be available Nov. 13 from Universal Music Enterprises.