Olivia Newton-John’s Widower Opens Up About Letting Go of Their Calif. Ranch: 'It Was Our Place' (Exclusive)

John Easterling reflects on his decision to sell the California ranch he shared with his late wife, Olivia Newton-John.

A naturopathic entrepreneur tells PEOPLE he “couldn’t even think about” parting with his assets the first year after he lost Fat star to breast cancer in August 2022.

However, Easterling explains that after her death he began to travel a lot, spending time in Peru, Florida and Australia.

“I think I realized that I wasn’t here much and it was time to let someone else really enjoy this place,” he says. “I mean, we had such a great time here, but it was our place and now I realize it’s time to let someone else enjoy the peace and tranquility and beauty of what this place is.”

Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling’s California ranch.

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“It would be a great place for someone with a few young kids to run around and have fun,” he adds.

In June 2024, he put the 12-acre Santa Ynez estate up for sale for $8.9 million.

“It’s a beautiful place,” he says. “Now I stand here and absorb that miracle, but now it’s just me there, it’s just very different. People who are in a similar situation, I know they would understand.”

Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling’s California ranch.

Jim Bartsch

Easterling adds that he feels a “very strong presence” of his late wife.

The home, which spans 4,450 square feet, has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, a two-bedroom guest house, an outdoor kitchen, a pool and a four-car garage. Other amenities include a stable, barn, arena and pastures.

A new video (seen above) shared by Carey Kendall of Village Properties, which holds the listing, showcases some of the property’s highlights along with sweeping views of the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County.

The video said the home offered the couple “the utmost privacy”, adding that they had created a “spiritual oasis for themselves”.

Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling’s California ranch.

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Kendall previously told PEOPLE, “John and Olivia recognized that uniqueness when they bought the property years ago; and they looked at it thoroughly before deciding this was the magical place for them!”

He added, “The spacious feel is great, the running water in front of the ranch is incredible, and the exquisite architectural details set the home apart!”

Newton-John and Easterling met in the mid-2000s while working for an environmental nonprofit, and married in June 2008.

Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling’s California ranch.

Jim Bartsch

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They celebrated their wedding with two ceremonies, one of which was an Incan spiritual ceremony held on top of a mountain in Peru. The second was an intimate gathering in Florida with friends and family.

Easterling told PEOPLE in June that, in addition to items kept by him and Newton-John’s daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, many of the Grammy winner’s personal items will be sold at Julien’s Auctions later this year.

He continued: “Part of the proceeds from this auction will go to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund where we are making historic progress in herbal medicine and cancer research. This was Olivia’s dream and I promised her I would fulfill it.”

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Source: HIS Education