Kylie Minogue bio, age, height, husband, career path, family 2025

The Biography of Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue is beloved by pop music fans worldwide. But she's especially celebrated in her native Australia and the United Kingdom, where she spent many years. This petite blonde, who lit up stages with disco hits, is often compared to Madonna – for her impact on the music industry and the countless songs she's delivered throughout her long career. But Minogue sees herself not as a pop queen, but as a princess of pop music – a title she gave to one of her albums, 'Impossible Princess'.

Still, Minogue has never put on royal airs or acted snobbish. She's always been completely open with her fans, never hiding her many failed relationships. When diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, she faced reporters looking frail with a scarf around her head, but still wearing her trademark radiant smile.

She worked tirelessly: releasing album after album, appearing in films, launching cosmetics and perfume lines, and writing books. Work became her escape from an unfulfilled dream of family – Minogue never married any of her partners, and her illness meant she couldn't have children.

Childhood and Family

Kylie Ann Minogue was born in Melbourne on May 28, 1968. Her father, Ronald Charles Minogue, had Irish ancestry, but his family had lived in Australia for several generations. Her mother, Carol Ann Jones, had moved to Australia from Wales.

Kylie was the firstborn in the young family. Her parents weren't wealthy and moved homes frequently. After her brother Brendan and sister Dannii were born, her parents decided to settle in South Oakleigh, a Melbourne suburb. That's where Minogue started school in 1975.

Initially, Kylie didn't stand out: she was shy, had trouble making friends, and wasn't a strong student. Her mother worked hard to get her daughters interested in the arts. The sisters took dance and singing lessons and learned to play various musical instruments. At a local arts festival, Kylie came in second playing "Run, Rabbit, Run" on piano. But she was nowhere near as popular as Dannii.

In 1982, Kylie's younger sister convinced their parents to take her to auditions for the popular kids' TV show Young Talent Time. She ended up becoming a regular on the show for the next six years. Fans sent Dannii enthusiastic letters asking for autographs – Kylie would answer them, perfectly forging her sister's signature.

TV Roles

Kylie made her screen debut at just 11 years old. Her sister Dannii had already been hitting the audition circuit for various soap operas, but got turned away from one casting call for being too young. Kylie tagged along that day and struck gold - she snagged the role of Dutch refugee Carla in the soap opera "The Sullivans."

In 1980, Minogue appeared in an episode of "Skyways" alongside Jason Donovan, playing siblings. Five years later, she landed a regular role in "The Henderson Kids." The demanding filming schedule meant missing school, and her co-stars remembered her as quite sensitive - she'd often tear up on set when things went wrong.

Kylie Minogue in The Henderson Kids (right)

When her character got axed in the second season, Minogue shifted her focus to music. In 1986, she and Dannii appeared on "Young Talent Time," belting out the hit "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves." But she didn't make the cut as a regular cast member.

Kylie Minogue & Dannii Minogue - Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves (Young Talent Time 1986)

A few months later, Kylie scored one of the lead roles in "Neighbours." Casting director Jan Russ remembered: "Kylie had some filming experience under her belt, but she was only 18 and shy as anything. The camera absolutely loved her though - I knew right away she was our Charlene!"

The soap was riding high in Australia at the time, catapulting Minogue to stardom. Her character - the feisty tomboy Charlene Mitchell - became a fan favorite. Within just one year, she swept up four Logie Awards plus a Gold Logie, making her one of Australia's hottest actresses. But Kylie had her sights set on something bigger: a music career.

First Steps in Music

In 1987, Minogue dropped her single "Locomotion" through Mushroom Records, and it quickly took off. The hit stayed at the top of the charts in Australia for nearly two months. But the young singer immediately faced backlash. The media branded her "a frivolous girl in bright provocative outfits," supposedly compensating for her lack of talent. "There was definitely a lot of arrogance when I started in the music industry. So much animosity," Kylie later recalled.

Kylie Minogue - The Loco-motion

A few months later, Minogue relocated to the UK and started working with producers on her next single. It was released in December 1987 and was titled "I Should Be So Lucky".

The following year, Kylie officially left TV behind to focus on her solo album. The album, titled "Kylie," stayed on the British charts for a full year and dominated worldwide.

The singer's second album "Enjoy Yourself" was released in 1989. It performed well in the UK, Australia, and Europe, but struggled in the US, so Kylie concentrated her promotional efforts elsewhere. In 1990, the singer toured Europe and Asia.

Later that year, Kylie's third album "Rhythm of Love" dropped and finally won over the critics. Critics noted that Minogue had successfully shed her "soap opera girl" image.

Kylie Minogue - Rhythm Of Love

Under the guidance of PWL label, Kylie released her fourth album "Let's Get to It" (1991) and a compilation of selected hits (1992). After this, she chose not to renew with the production center, instead signing with independent label "Deconstruction Records," which specialized in dance music.

The Height of Popularity

The singer's 1993 album "Kylie Minogue" was warmly received in the UK and Australia. However, the album was never released in the US. During this period, Kylie began collaborating with Steve Anderson, who became her musical director for many years.

Two years later, Minogue teamed up with rocker Nick Cave to record "Where the Wild Roses Grow", which became a massive worldwide hit. The song won ARIA Awards, becoming both hit of the year and best pop release.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ft. Kylie Minogue - Where The Wild Roses Grow

Kylie's experimental album of 1997, "Impossible Princess", had an indie sound, and most of the compositions for it were written by the singer herself. This marked Minogue's attempt to finally break away from her early pop image.

The singer's seventh album "Light Years" was released under the guidance of the record company Parlophone in 2000. The standout hit "Spinning Around" was particularly popular with listeners, topping both British and Australian charts and winning an ARIA Award. The same year, Minogue performed at the closing of the Olympic Games in Sydney with the song "Dancing Queen" by ABBA.

Kylie Minogue during Olympic Games in Sydney

The singer's most successful single was "Can't Get You Out of My Head", released in 2001. The dance hit topped charts in forty countries, with sales exceeding 5 million copies. The song appeared on the album "Fever", released a few months later. To support the album, the singer embarked on a large-scale concert tour.

Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head

In 2003, Kylie received her first Grammy nomination for the song "Love at First Sight", but she won the award only a year later – for the hit "Come Into My World".

Kylie Minogue - Come Into My World

Looking to experiment with style again, Minogue released "Body Language" in 2004, trading her usual disco sound for hip-hop. While the album received a cool reception from listeners, the song "Slow" earned Kylie another Grammy nomination.

In 2008, Minogue's anniversary record "X" was released. Despite unflattering reviews from critics, the singer embarked on a large-scale concert tour featuring new songs and classic hits. She visited over 20 countries, with ticket sales alone bringing in more than $70 million.

Minogue would continue to rely on such intensive touring. For example, her 2011 tour generated $60 million in box office sales while promoting her album "Aphrodite". And a year later, Kylie marked her 25th anniversary on the stage in style, performing at a festival in Sydney and a concert as part of Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee.

Over the next few years, she cemented her place in electronic dance music and R&B with several successful albums - "Kiss Me Once" (2014) and "Golden" (2018). While Kylie didn't quite conquer the global charts, her music was embraced enthusiastically across Europe and Australia.

Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once

In 2019, Kylie celebrated 30 years in music and made her Glastonbury debut as part of the milestone celebration. Nick Cave and Chris Martin sang with her on stage.

Roles in Cinema

Though Kylie has always been music-first, she's made occasional forays onto the big screen. She made her film debut in 1989 with "The Delinquents" – a movie that critics panned but audiences turned into a commercial hit.

In 1994, Kylie starred alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme in the film "Street Fighter". Critics were brutal, dubbing her "the worst actress in the English-speaking world." But the harsh reviews didn't dampen her enthusiasm one bit. In 2000, she landed a lead role in the film "Sample People", and a year later she appeared in the musical "Moulin Rouge!".

Kylie Minogue in Moulin Rouge!

In addition, Kylie was also involved in dubbing. From 2002 to 2005, she voiced the character Florence in the animated film "The Magic Roundabout". Two years later, Minogue played a cameo character in the Christmas episode of "Doctor Who" – the episode was watched by more than 13.3 million people.

Twisted Christmas in London | Voyage of the Damned | Doctor Who

For a small role in the 2009 Bollywood film "Blue," Kylie earned a spectacular payday – a cool million dollars.

Kylie Minogue in Blue

2012 marked her career with the leading role in the film "Holy Motors", which was shown at Cannes.

Three years later, the singer also appeared in the TV series "Young & Hungry" and the Hollywood action film "San Andreas". And in 2018, she landed a role in the film "Swinging Safari".

Other Achievements

In 1999, Minogue published her first book "Kylie". Her bibliography includes three more works - "Kylie: La La La" (2002), a children's book "The Showgirl Princess" (2006), and "Kylie / Fashion" (2012).

The Showgirl Princess – the children book by Kylie Minogue

In 2001, to promote her album "Fever", Kylie launched several collections of women's underwear. Initially sold only in Australia, the line expanded to British customers a couple of years later.

In 2005, Minogue partnered with perfume and cosmetics company Coty to release her fragrance "Darling". A few years later, Kylie expanded her signature line with additional fragrances - "Sweet Darling", "Sexy Darling", and "Couture".

Kylie Minogue on a presentation of her perfume

In 2007, the singer was offered to become the face of the jewelry company Tous. She helped design some of the jewelry pieces. Kylie also partnered with fashion house H&M to launch her own swimwear line.

From 2013, the singer served as a coach on the British show "The Voice". She proved herself to be a pleasant and charming star with fair judging on the show. In the same year, she became a coach in the Australian version of the program.

In 2019, Minogue launched her own cosmetics line "KYLIE". The product launch sparked legal disputes: the singer clearly did this to challenge Kylie Jenner, who had previously registered a similar business under her name. For five years, Minogue's lawyers fought to prove that there could be only one "KYLIE" in the market and ultimately won. This, however, did not prevent Jenner from successfully developing her brand called "Kylie Cosmetics".

Kylie Minogue's Trademark Battle Against Kylie Jenner | WWHL

Personal Life of Kylie Minogue

Despite being regularly featured as the ultimate male fantasy in glossy magazines, her personal life has been anything but happy - she's faced betrayal from those closest to her time and again.

In 1986, while filming the series "Neighbours", Kylie had a passionate affair with actor Jason Donovan. They split a year later as Minogue's career exploded - her boyfriend couldn't handle her meteoric rise to fame.

The young singer found comfort with INXS rocker Michael Hutchence. Their relationship resembled a volcano of passion, mostly due to the musician's impulsive nature. The couple broke up in 1991, reportedly due to Hutchence's affair with model Helena Christensen. However, the stars remained friends until Michael's death in 1997.

By this time, Minogue had been in a relationship with photographer Stephan Sednaoui, and in 2000 she became involved with model James Gooding. Friends all said the model wasn't right for her - he had a wandering eye and couldn't resist other women. But Kylie refused to believe her boyfriend was cheating. It wasn't until 2002, when James stopped bothering to hide his affairs, that Minogue finally had enough.

A year later at the Grammy Awards, she met actor Olivier Martinez, who was often referred to as the "French Brad Pitt" in the press. He supported her when Gooding decided to share with the press spicy details of their romance and called the singer a "capricious diva".

Kylie was blissfully happy with Martinez and already dreaming of marriage and kids when she received devastating news in 2005 - a breast cancer diagnosis. Once again, Olivier stood by her side, supporting his girlfriend through surgery and grueling chemotherapy treatments. Kylie lost her hair and weight down to 85 pounds.

Minogue did not hide her condition from the public, often appearing in public and openly talking about her battle with the disease. Her openness even created what became known as the "Kylie effect" - inspiring more women to get mammograms.

I Was Misdiagnosed - Kylie Minogue

By 2007, the singer's disease had gone into remission. Around the same time, reports surfaced that Minogue might never be able to have children. "I've always dreamed of having a big family. People tell me there are other options, but honestly, I just don't know," she confessed.

Still longing for a family, Kylie gave her boyfriend an ultimatum: marry me or we're done. But the commitment-phobic Olivier was increasingly photographed around town with other actresses and models.

After another heartbreak, Kylie started dating Spanish actor Andres Velencoso in 2008. He resembled Martinez very much in appearance. After three years, this romance also ended.

Kylie's next romance made headlines in 2015 when she was spotted with actor Joshua Sasse. The singer couldn't hide her joy and announced their engagement a year later. But by 2016, the wedding was called off - Joshua had cheated on Kylie with a Spanish model. Rumors swirled that Kylie had gotten close to Prince Andrew during this time, but these were never confirmed.

In 2018, Minogue started dating Paul Solomons, creative director of British GQ. "He supported me like no one else could. Paul cared about my fans, he cared about my world, but mainly - about me," Kylie said about her partner.

In 2021, the couple's engagement became known. However, during this time, the couple decided to separate: Paul stayed in London while Minogue returned to Australia after years in the UK. The singer said their long-distance relationship wasn't typical, but they were both happy with the arrangement.

At the beginning of 2023, it was announced that Minogue and Paul Solomons' engagement was broken off. Reports suggested their relationship couldn't survive the distance. Minogue's reps said the singer would now focus on her music.

Kylie Minogue Now

In 2021, the singer released a reissue of the album "Disco Guest List Edition". A year later, Kylie reunited with ex-boyfriend Jason Donovan - they reprised their roles for the "Neighbours" series finale.

Kylie Minogue in the final of Neighbours

The release of her new album, Tension, was scheduled for September 22, 2023.

Interesting Facts

There is a popular legend that Kylie's first hit "I Should Be So Lucky", released in 1987, was written for her in just 40 minutes. The hired musicians simply forgot that the young singer would come to them and composed the single while she was sitting in the reception area of the production center.
By 2007, the fourth wax figure of Minogue had been installed at Madame Tussauds museum. The singer also has a bronze cast of her hands at Wembley Arena in London and a statue in one of Melbourne's districts.
In 2008, the performer received the title of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Literature in France and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Kylie is considered an LGBT icon in show business. Drag queens regularly perform to her music in clubs around the world. The singer has a positive attitude towards such a reputation.
In 2011, the singer was entered into the Guinness Book of Records due to the fact that her albums hit the top 5 of the charts for several decades in a row.
In 2012, Minogue insured her bottom for a sum of 5 million dollars.

Photos: Kylie Minogue