There’s no denying that Kylie Minogue is one of Australia’s best loved and most successful musical exports.
From her breakout role in Neighbours to her various attempts to crack America, Kylie’s career has been been characterised by dizzying highs as well as crushing lows.
As ‘the singing budgie’ prepares to celebrate her 50th birthday on Monday, Daily Mail Australia looks at some of the ups and downs of her incredible career.
The death of her ex-boyfriend Michael Hutchence, a cancer battle and THOSE gold hotpants: The highs and lows of pop princess Kylie Minogue’s career as she celebrates her 50th birthday
Early years: Kylie first rose to fame in Australia playing the mechanic Charlene Robinson on Neighbours, a role that would eventually catapult her to international stardom
Her Neighbours debut
Kylie first rose to fame in Australia playing the mechanic Charlene Robinson on Neighbours, a role that would eventually catapult her to international stardom.
Her relationship with Jason Donovan, both on and off camera, was one of the most talked about in the country and their televised nuptials have become the stuff of television folklore.
The wedding was heavily publicised, with both Kylie and Jason embarking on a national tour of shopping malls to promote the episode.
Gold Logie
Auspicious beginnings: Kylie’s impact on the Australian cultural landscape was recognised when she won the Gold Logie for Most Popular Television Personality in 1988
Kylie’s impact on the Australian cultural landscape was recognised when she won the Gold Logie for Most Popular Television Personality in 1988.
The award – which, at that point, was a rarity for soap stars – also gave Kylie the distinction of being the youngest person to ever receive the accolade.
During that year’s Logies ceremony, Kylie also won Most Popular Actress in Australia, Most Popular Personality on Victorian Television and Most Popular Music Video.
The success of Locomotion
Breakout: After reportedly singing a version of the Little Eva hit The Loco-Motion at a benefit concert, Kylie was signed to Mushroom Records and that song was to become her first single
After reportedly singing a version of the Little Eva hit The Loco-Motion at a benefit concert for the Fitzroy Football Club, Kylie was signed to Mushroom Records and that song – re titled Locomotion – was to become her first single.
The record company’s gamble in signing an untested soap actress paid off, with the song eventually spending seven weeks on the Australian singles chart and winning an ARIA Award for the young songstress.
The single also represented Kylie’s first foray into the American market, reaching an impressive No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
Cancer battle
Shocking news: Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 while in the middle of her Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour
Health battle: After a partial mastectomy and rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, Kylie was given the all-clear the following year
Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 while in the middle of her Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour.
After a partial mastectomy and rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, Kylie was given the all-clear the following year.
Speaking to Karl Stefanovic about her diagnosis on 60 Minutes in 2014, Kylie admitted that her cancer journey had taught her to put herself first.
‘Someone had said to me at the time, “You need to be a little bit selfish”.
‘It’s not in my nature to be selfish but now is the time to do that, (to) let people take care of you. And…that’s what I did.’
The death of Michael Hutchence
Heartbreak: Kylie dated Michael Hutchence from 1989 and 1991 and was left devastated when he was was found dead aged 37 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney’s Double Bay in late 1997
Tragedy: While their relationship had ended years before Michael’s death, the former lovers reportedly remained good friends and Kylie appeared devastated at her ex’s funeral in Sydney
Kylie dated the legendary INXS frontman Michael Hutchence from 1989 and 1991 and was left devastated when he was was found dead aged 37 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney’s Double Bay in November 1997.
While their relationship had ended years before Michael’s death, the former lovers reportedly remained good friends.
Kylie looked almost inconsolable at Michael’s funeral, which was held at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney.
Speaking to Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair in 2015, Kylie credited Michael for opening her eyes to the world.
‘Life was going one way and suddenly he just…’ she said before trailing off in thought. ‘Because he was many things in one man, my experience was many things.’
Her famous gold hotpants
Flaunting it: Kylie caused quite a stir in the year 2000 when she released dancefloor classic Spinning Around. The hotpants she wore in the music video would eventually become iconic
Kylie caused quite a stir in the year 2000 when she released her dancefloor classic Spinning Around.
However, much of the attention surrounding the song actually focused on the skintight, gold hotpants she wore in the accompanying music video.
The risqué outfit, which she had bought for 50p at a London market, wound its way into pop folklore as Kylie filled them out perfectly while dancing seductively at a bar.
The hotpants have since been officially enshrined into history after being included in an exhibition at the Arts Centre Melbourne
Cracking the US market
Big time! The release of 2001’s Can’t Get You Out Of My Head had Americans spinning around on dancefloors across the country and gave Kylie her first and (so far) only US gold record
While she had some success in North America in the ’80s when Locomotion stormed up the Billboard Charts, it wasn’t until the new millennium that Kylie truly arrived in the States.
The release of 2001 single Can’t Get You Out Of My Head had Americans spinning around on dancefloors across the country and gave Kylie her first and (so far) only US gold record.
The tune also hit No. 1 on the US dance charts and was certified double platinum in the UK and triple platinum in Australia.
She subsequently won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2004 for Come Into My World.
Breakup with Olivier Martinez
Not meant to be: Kylie began a relationship with French actor Olivier Martinez in 2003 after they met at the Grammy Awards. They split in 2007 amid rumours of infidelity on Olivier’s part
Kylie began a relationship with French actor Olivier Martinez in 2003 after the pair met at that year’s Grammy Awards ceremony.
However, the relationship was dogged by scandalous rumours – in particular, claims that Olivier had cheated on Kylie with model Sarai Givati, which Kylie has denied.
The pair eventually split in February 2007 but reportedly remained on amicable terms.
Speaking to News Corp in 2007, Kylie admitted that she still had a lot of admiration for her former flame.
‘With Olivier, there is definitely still a love and respect,’ she said. ‘It’s so important to have that.’
Split with Joshua Sasse
Loved up: After a relationship with model Andrés Velencoso – which lasted from 2008 to 2013 – Kylie confirmed in November 2015 that she was dating British actor Joshua Sasse
After a relationship with model Andrés Velencoso – which lasted from 2008 to 2013 – Kylie confirmed in November 2015 that she was dating British actor Joshua Sasse.
The couple even got engaged in February 2016, but called it quits the following year.
They first met on the set of American television show Galavant, which Joshua was starring in, and made plans to marry only months later.
Short lived: The couple got engaged in February 2016, but called it quits the following year
However, Kylie reportedly threw Joshua out of her West London home after he ‘grew too close to’ Spanish actress Marta Milans.
Reflecting on the relationship during an interview with Richard Wilkins on the Today show in April this year, Kylie hinted at the devastating impact the split had on her.
‘So much has been said about your love life lately, I don’t care about any of that. All I want to know is that you are happy? Is life good right now?’ asked Richard.
‘I try not to sound cheesy, but I am,’ Kylie replied. ‘I was not in a good place, I was in a place where I was kind of kidding myself.
‘To be set free from that is so liberating. A little bit “tail between my legs” at points. But I feel fortunate to be kind of racing, cantering, galloping towards 50 and feeling good about it.’
‘To be set free from that is so liberating’: Reflecting on the relationship during an interview with Richard Wilkins in April, Kylie hinted at the devastating impact the split had on her