Remembering KELLY

Fans and loved ones, including devoted husband John Travolta, mourn the death of Kelly Preston

In the early-morning hours of July 13, John Travolta took to Instagram to share some devastating news. “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,” he wrote. “She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many,” he continued, before thanking the doctors and nurses who cared for Preston, and letting fans know he’d be retreating from the spotlight to tend to the couple’s two children. “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.”

It’s going to be a rough road. Preston — who was just 57 when she died on July 12 — leaves behind her husband of 28 years and kids Ella, 20, and 9-year-old Benjamin (she and Travolta also had a son, Jett, who died at age 16 in 2009). “John and Kelly were true partners, and he’s devastated,” one insider tells Us. “Ella and Kelly were best friends and inseparable, and of course Benjamin worshiped his mom. Kelly was their rock, the heart and soul who kept the family united,” the insider adds. “They’re being strong, but they can’t imagine life without her.”

GRIEVING AN ANGEL

News of the tragedy came as a shock to fans, who didn’t even know Preston had been sick. In his Instagram post, Travolta, 66, said his wife had been getting treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and had been surrounded by friends and loved ones as she privately fought for her life. Fellow celebs were quick to express their surprise and sadness over the loss of the Jerry Maguire actress on social media. Russell Crowe called her a “sparkly eyed gem” and Josh

Gad tweeted, “What a loss.”

Maria Shriver expressed her grief, along with more well-wishes for Travolta and the kids, saying, “Join me in sending them love and strength.”

GOING IT ALONE

Sadly, it’s not the first tragedy for the family. Travolta and Preston were heartbroken when their son Jett died after reportedly hitting his head during a seizure in the bathroom of a hotel in the Bahamas. The Grease actor called the loss “the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life,” adding, “I didn’t know if I was going to make it.” He credited the Church of Scientology with helping him and Preston, also a longtime member of the controversial religion, cope, telling Us in 2018: “The church never left our sides for two years. I don’t know if I would have made it through without their support.”

But this time may be different. “John will always be grateful to the church, and he’s open about how their support got him through the darkest times after Jett’s death,” the second source says about Travolta, one of Scientology’s most highprofile members. “But right now he needs time off from everything in order to grieve and focus on raising the kids. Put simply, family comes first; he needs time to process the enormity of what’s happened without any interference.”

In fact, continues the second source, “there’s talk that he could take time out from Scientology, if not quit it altogether, because there’s simply no room for anything except the practical responsibilities of being a dad. That, and honoring Kelly’s legacy and being the best person he can be for her sake, are all that matter to him now. That’s all that’s on his mind, really, and it’ll be this way for quite a while to come.”