Kylie Minogue OBE (b. 1968), entertainment megastar, rose to local and international fame playing Charlene in the television soap Neighbours (she remains the youngest person to have won the Gold Logie). Twenty-five years later, she arguably ranks as the most popular solo female performer of all time. Her singing career began with a cover version of the 1960s song 'The Loco-Motion'. She signed a contract with the English hitmakers Stock Aitken Waterman in 1987 and made history by achieving more than 20 consecutive top ten hits in the UK. A change of record labels in 1992 ushered in a more sophisticated sound and image, as did her relationship with Michael Hutchence, who boasted of 'corrupting' her. With a sound instinct for re-invention, she has since been involved in some daring collaborations with artists including Nick Cave, Robbie Williams, Japanese pop star Towa Tei, and the Hurts. Apart from Madonna, Minogue is the only performer to have achieved UK number one hits in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, Kylie became a prominent survivor of the disease, her ordeal inspiring hope in many other women; she returned to complete her cancelled tour, Showgirl, in 2006.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2020
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
The photographs from Matthew Sleeth's tour of duty series look more like advertisements than images of war.
The Kylie exhibition celebrated the significant achievements of one of Australia's most internationally recognisable faces and gave the general public a rare glimpse into her glamorous life.
