John Travolta's 1976 Top 10 Hit Song Led to Career-Defining Movie Role

Fans—and movie producers— saw a new side of the actor when he released a hit song.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In 1976, John Travolta, best known for his role as Vinnie Barbarino on the sitcom 'Welcome Back, Kotter', released a pop-rock single titled 'Let Her In' that became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Travolta's performance on 'American Bandstand' and the song's success helped boost his career, and he credited it with landing him the starring role in the hit movie 'Grease' the following year.

Why it matters

Travolta's transition from a TV star to a successful recording artist and then a major movie star demonstrated his versatility as a performer. The success of 'Let Her In' showed that Travolta had musical talents beyond his acting abilities, which helped open doors for him in the film industry.

The details

In 1976, Travolta released his self-titled album, which included the pop-rock single 'Let Her In.' The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the charts for 20 weeks. Travolta's April 1976 appearance on 'American Bandstand' to perform the song for the first time helped generate buzz for the track. Shortly after, Travolta shared that he had landed a role in the film 'Carrie,' marking his transition to more serious dramatic acting roles. Travolta later credited 'Let Her In' with helping him secure the lead role of Danny Zuko in the hit movie 'Grease' the following year, where he recorded multiple Top 10 hits for the soundtrack.

  • In 1976, John Travolta released the hit single 'Let Her In'.
  • In April 1976, Travolta performed 'Let Her In' for the first time on 'American Bandstand'.
  • 'Let Her In' peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1976 and remained on the charts for 20 weeks.

The players

John Travolta

An American actor who rose to fame in the 1970s, best known for his roles in the sitcom 'Welcome Back, Kotter' and the films 'Grease' and 'Saturday Night Fever'.

Dick Clark

The host of the long-running music television program 'American Bandstand'.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I want to thank everybody for giving me that response because this is the first time. … It's nice to sing when there's a lot of affinity going on in the air, you know.”

— John Travolta (American Bandstand)

“Well, I'm from New Jersey… and in order to survive in New York City as an actor, you had to learn how to sing and dance. …I took voice lessons for like two or three years.”

— John Travolta (American Bandstand)

“The good news about that is that it allowed me to do something like Grease, which I wouldn't have if I hadn't done that song. Because that's what stirred them on saying, 'Oh, he can sing, too. Let's pull him into this.'”

— John Travolta (Blackfilm)

“I was much more attracted to acting by nature, because that was what I grew up doing. But I didn't mind every once in a while, you know, doing that as well, singing.”

— John Travolta (CNN's Larry King)

The takeaway

John Travolta's transition from a TV star to a successful recording artist with the hit song 'Let Her In' in 1976 helped pave the way for his career-defining role in the blockbuster film 'Grease' the following year, demonstrating his versatility as a performer and opening new doors in the film industry.