On Thursday (Oct. 12), John Travolta and his 23-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, paid tribute to Kelly Preston – his late wife and her late mother – on what would’ve been her 61st birthday. They both took to Instagram to share throwback photos of Preston, who passed away in 2020 due to breast cancer.
“Happy Birthday Kelly! We love you!” John wrote in his caption – sharing a close-up photo of Preston lying down with her palm on the side of her face. “Happy Birthday mama, I love you so much! Thank you for inspiring me every day,” Ella added in her caption – sharing an old photo of her with her arm around Kelly.
Preston was diagnosed with breast cancer sometime in 2018, but chose to keep her battle as private as possible. A family representative confirmed she had been ‘undergoing medical treatment for some time’ and was ‘supported by her closest family and friends’ from the very beginning all the way to the very end.
The recent Instagram posts by John Travolta and Ella Bleu Travolta resulted in plenty of heartwarming and touching messages in the comments section – including from each other. Ella Bleu left three heart emojis on her father’s post, while John wrote, “Ella, mommy and I love you,” under his daughter’s post.
Kimberly Heath-Carrico (a movie producer) took to the comments to share some beautiful stories about Kelly Preston – who often put others before herself. For example, there was one time when she was doing a photograph session and the photographer dropped his lens, so Kelly ran over and picked it up.
“She was that genuine to all that she met. She also taught me how to pose for a picture she was a dear, sweet, precious human. May you embody her your whole life! She was like a butterfly. Her beauty was seen, and she gently touched all in a way that was ethereal,” Kimberly added in her Instagram comment.
She also told a story about a time when her and Kelly were at a film festival, but she had to leave early to celebrate Ella Bleu’s birthday. Heath-Carrico praised Kelly for choosing family over everything, ‘even at a time when she could’ve put her career in a place.’ It goes to show how much her family meant to her.
John Travolta and Kelly Preston Were Married for 29 Years
John Travolta and Kelly Preston first met in 1987 while filming The Experts – Travolta was cast as Travis, while Preston was cast as Bonnie. Preston was still married to Kevin Gage, but they divorced that same year. She dated George Clooney and Charlie Sheen before striking up a relationship with Travolta.
Travolta and Preston ended up getting married on September 5, 1991 at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris – and then again in the United States two weeks later to make it official (and legal). They shared three children together – Jett (who died in 2009), Ella Bleu, 23, and Benjamin, who was born on Nov. 23, 2010.
On September 5, John Travolta posted a video of Ella Bleu wearing an elegant dress on what would’ve been his and Kelly’s 32nd wedding anniversary. “Our baby girl Ella in celebration of Kelly’s and my wedding anniversary – I’m so proud of you!! I know mama would be too!” Travolta wrote in the caption.
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He also posted a video of his late wife on Mother’s Day – it showed her holding up a decorated box that said ‘MOM’ on the lid. “Happy Mother’s Day Kelly. We miss you and love you! Love, Ben, Ella and John,” he wrote in the caption. It’s good to know her family is keeping her spirit and legacy very much alive.