Beloved actress Kelly Preston died Sunday, July 12, 2020, following a two-year battle with breast cancer. Kelly was only 57 at the time of her death.
The news that Kelly had died from the disease surprised many, as Kelly had chosen to fight her battle against cancer behind closed doors. However, the people closest to Kelly are now speaking out about her struggle and her life.
Kelly's family released a statement that reads:
“Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends. She was a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched. Her family asks for your understanding of their need for privacy at this time.”
Kelly’s husband, John Travolta, also took to Instagram to make a more personal connection with the pair’s fans. John has over 2 million followers on the platform.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many. My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly's love and life will always be remembered."
"I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don't hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal.
All my love,
JT."
Ella also shared a tribute to her mom on Instagram:
"I have never met anyone as courageous, strong, beautiful and loving as you. Anyone who is lucky enough to have known you or to have ever been in your presence will agree that you have a glow and a light that never ceases to shine and that makes anyone around you feel instantly happy."
"Thank you for being there for me no matter what. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your help and thank you for making this world a better place. You have made life so beautiful and I know you will continue to do so always. I love you so much mama."
Kelly and John met back in 1989, while they were filming The Experts together. As many people have noted since, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. Kelly was actually married at the time. She shared, "Well, I was not that happily married, let's put it that way. I was really with the wrong person."
However, Kelly and her first husband, actor Kevin Gage, split up after two years of marriage. Kelly dated George Clooney for a short while following her divorce, and was then engaged to Charlie Sheen until 1990. However, as soon as Kelly was single, John Travolta swooped in. He proposed to Kelly on New Year's Eve in 1991.
John had actually been involved with the actress Diana Hyland for a number of years. The two met on the set of The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, when Diana played his mother. The pair had an 18-year age difference, but that didn't stop them from falling in love anyway. Diana died in 1977 from cancer when she was only 41.
Kelly was surprised by the engagement but was totally thrilled. She told Entertainment Tonight that the couple was ready to "plan to have some babies." She even added, "We're practicing right now. This could be barefoot and pregnant for the next 10 years."
And in fact, Kelly was already two months pregnant with the pair's oldest son, Jett, when they got married on September 5, 1991, in Paris. They had a second wedding in Florida.
The pair were well-known members of the Church of Scientology, which John joined in 1975.
Their son, Jett, experienced a number of medical complications and conditions throughout his life. He started having seizures at the age of 2, and he was also diagnosed with autism. Jett even fought Kawasaki disease when he was only 15 months old.
Tragically, Jett died unexpectedly in 2009. He had a seizure while the family was vacationing and hit his head on the bathtub.
Their daughter, Ella, was born on April 3, 2000.
Ella recently stepped into the acting world with a role in The Poison Rose in 2019. Kelly spoke glowingly about seeing her daughter act. "It floored me how poised, confident, elegant, sweet, gorgeous (I don't think there are actually enough adjectives in the English language for me to properly articulate how perfectly she held her own)."
Kelly and John also have a 9-year-old son named Benjamin together.
Kelly and John celebrated their 28th anniversary in September 2019, and Kelly shared a moving tribute to John on her own Instagram page:
"To my dearest Johnny, the most wonderful man I know. You have given me hope when I have felt lost, loved me patiently and unconditionally… made me laugh harder than any other human being possible… shared the most beautiful highs and at times low."
"You're a dream Daddio and make life so much fun!! I trust my love with you implicitly… with you I know I will always be okay no matter what happens… I love you forever and completely. Happy 28th Anniversary @johntravolta."
