On May 28, 1968, Kylie Minogue was born in Melbourne, Australia. The soap opera-star-turned-pop star has sold 80 million records worldwide. She first got America’s attention with her 1987 cover of Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion.” The song was the top-selling single in Australia for the entire 1980s. Her music was was ubiquitous in the first years of the new millenium. Minogue’s contagious dance track, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” was one of the most popular songs of the early 2000s. In 2004, Minogue won her first Grammy for Best Dance Recording with her song, “Come Into My World.” Minogue’s latest album, “Golden,” recently debuted at No. 1 in the UK and Australia. As she celebrates her 50th birthday today, the Australian Princess of Pop still reigns supreme on the dance charts.
Minogue began acting at a young age. In 1986, she became a superstar in Australia and the UK, thanks to her role on the popular soap opera “Neighbours.” The show was such a phenomenon that 20 million in the UK tuned in to watch her character, Charlene Robinson, get married. In 1988, Minogue traded in her television career for a singing career. Her debut album, “Kylie” (1988), made her an international pop star. She went on to release four more albums that were wildly successful throughout Europe. Then, in 1997, she experimented with a more indie sound. However, by 2000 she returned to dance music with her album “Light Years.” Her single “Spinning Around” put her back on the map in the dance and electronica music world.
In 2002, the world could not get enough of Minogue. Her music was everywhere, thanks to her dance-pop album, “Fever.” An international smash success, the album contained the catchy track, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” The song hit No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the dance charts. Minogue continued to dominate the dance floor in the early 2000s with other hits “Love At First Sight,” “Get Outta My Way” and “Better Than Today.”
After beating breast cancer in 2005, Minogue inspired many young women to get regularly checked by a doctor. The French Cultural Minister called it “The Kylie Effect.” Two years after recovering, she returned to music with her 2007 album, “X.” Between 2009 and 2012, Minogue continued to put out albums and singles including “Time Bomb,” which reached No. 1 on the dance charts.
Turning 50 years old today, Minogue just scored her 14th No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart with “Dancing.” The single is the first track off her Nashville-inspired album, “Golden.” Happy 50th Birthday, Kylie!