Award-Winning Musician
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$90 Million
"I'm trying to be myself more and more. The more confidence you have in yourself, the more you realize that this is you, and life isn't long. So get on with it!" Kylie Minogue, more commonly known as just 'Kylie', is one of the most successful musicians to ever come from the United Kingdom. The Australian-British singer has worked for decades in the music industry en route to becoming the 'Princess of Pop'. Minogue also gets to lay claim to the title of Highest Selling Australian Artist of All Time, according to the Australian Recording Industry Association.
More than just a musician, Minogue has experienced the highs and lows of several different career paths. She's a proud philanthropist, prominent advocate, and even an accomplished actress. Over the years, Minogue's work has catapulted her into heights that have rarely been charted by musicians. Minogue was even appointed by the French Government to the position of Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. If you thought that Kylie was just a singer, you were dead wrong!
Beginning of an Illustrious Life
Kylie Minogue was born on May 28, 1968, in Melbourne, Australia. Her father was Ronald Charles Minogue and her mother was Carol Ann Jones. Ronald was a fifth-generation Australian with Irish roots. He worked as an accountant while Kylie was a child. Carol Ann Jones worked as a professional dancer throughout Kylie's childhood. Minogue ended up being raised in Surrey Hill in Melbourne before being sent to Camberwell High School. Minogue has two other siblings.
For Minogue, there was no starting slow when it came to her career. Despite her family's own money problems, Minogue managed to graduate from high school before directing her formidable talent at the acting industry. While Minogue would find success as a child actor almost immediately, she wouldn't truly come into form until she began pursuing music.
Child Actor to Accomplished Artist
Kylie Minogue began her career as a child actor at the age of 11 when she appeared in The Sullivans and Skyways. By 1985, Minogue was working as a serious actor and her clear skill would allow her to land a supporting role on The Hendersons Kids (1985). Minogue would eventually be written off of the show due to her troubles with memorization. Producer Alan Hardy, looking back, would call the decision the 'right' for Minogue as it allowed the talented artist to pursue her skills as a singer. Still, Minogue would pursue acting long enough to land another starring role on the TV show, Fame and Misfortune and Neighbours (1986).
By the time that 1987 rolled around, Minogue was ready to showcase her skills as a performer. During a benefit concert for the Fitzroy Football Club in 1987, Minogue would perform a duet with John Waters. They played the song 'I Got You Babe' and 'The Loco-Motion'. Minogue would be signed by Mushroom Records within the year. Minogue would land a hit single, 'The Locomotion', immediately. The track would spend seven weeks atop the Australian charts before becoming the highest-selling Australian single of the 80s. Minogue would score an ARIA Award for her efforts.
Minogue's successful single would translate to another contract, this time with Stock, Aitken, and Waterman. This contract would lead to her first album, titled Kylie. Her lead single on the record, 'I Should Be So Lucky', would end up becoming an international hit. With the acting world firmly behind her, it was clear that Kylie was finally following the path that she was meant to be on. By this point in time, Minogue was off of Neighbours and fully committed on her music. Minogue would drop her second record, Enjoy Yourself, in 1989 to global acclaim. The record found success throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. This success would lead Minogue to go on her first-ever concert tour in support of the record. Minogue would take some time away from music to appear in the film, The Delinquents (1989) to mixed reviews.
Minogue would go on to drop her third album, Rhythm of Love, in 1990. The record would showcase a more emotionally evolved Minogue and the record would contain several references to her high-profile romance with Michael Hutchence (INXS). 'Better the Devil You Know' would hit the two-spot in the U.K. and 'Step Back in Time' would be another Top-10 hit for the record. Minogue would release Let's Get to It in 1991 and for the first time, Minogue would find her album just short of the Top-10 chart.
In 1994, Minogue changed up her style and her contractual obligations by signing a deal with Deconstruction Records. She would release her self-titled album in 1994 and the record would help propel Minogue to new heights in Europe. Minogue would leave music again in 1999 to perform on stage in the play, The Tempest. She also nabbed a role in Sample People (2000). Minogue would join rather prestigious company when her 2000 single, 'Spinning Around', charted to number one. Minogue would join Madonna as the only artist to score a #1 single in three consecutive decades.
When 2001 rolled around, Minogue was ready to pop off yet again. Minogue would release her eighth studio album, Fever, with the lead single being, 'Can't Get You Out of My Head'. The song would become Minogue's defining piece and it would chart at #1 in forty countries around the world. In support of her new hit record, Minogue would go on the KyleFever2002 tour throughout Europe and Australia.
Unfortunately for Minogue, things weren't always good. In 2005, Kylie came out with her breast cancer diagnosis. She had to cancel her Showgirl tour to focus on medical treatment. She went through both surgery and chemotherapy. Minogue worked hard to keep her health out of the spotlight during this time of her life. When her health thankfully began to turn around, Kylie would drop 'Over the Rainbow' and a children's book titled, 'The Showgirl Princess'.
Throughout her career, Minogue has released 14 records with her most recent work being Golden in 2018. Minogue has appeared in several notable films including Street Fighter (1994), Moulin Rouge (2001), San Andreas (2015) and Swinging Safari (2017). Minogue also spent some time on television with appearances in Galavant (2016) and Doctor Who (2007). For her work in music, Minogue has won one Grammy while being nominated for a total of five Grammy Awards. She has also sold more than 70 million records around the world.
Minogue is a philanthropist and advocate in her private life. She has raised funds in support of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, the 2005 Thailand Tsunami, the 20100 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, as well as many others. She works with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children as well as several prominent breast cancer awareness and treatment groups.
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