Kylie’s TV tears

Posted Mon 7 Mar 2011 14:32 GMT by Ben Gilbert in Behind The Music

It is now over 22 years since Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan tied the knot on TV in ‘Neighbours', a union which launched both firmly into the hearts of every British household. After a spectacular and enduring pop transformation, our passion for her, in particular, seems to be absolute and unwavering.

 

 

But the anniversary of Charlene and Scott's vows is not one she is likely to celebrate every 12 months. Not when there are rather more important and very real landmarks that deserve to be commemorated. In fact, at the end of February, Kylie reached the five-year mark of being free from cancer.

 

 

For many reasons, this is a hugely significant landmark. Which surely explains why the pop icon was reduced to tears when discussing the all clear in a new interview on Australian TV. The piece was intended to promote her current world tour but showcased Minogue at her most open and emotional.

 

 

Speaking to long-term friend and reporter Molly Meldrum for ‘Saturday Night', the singer became overwhelmed with emotion as she recounted her battle with the illness, which was first diagnosed in May 2005, and her first public appearance after surgery, which took place at a children's hospital.

 

 

"I was talking to some parents across the other side of a bed and their child was there. I was saying the things that I would normally say in that situation, just making conversation with the child, giving the parents some support, and then they caught me off guard," she explains.

 

 

"They just eyeballed me and said, ‘How are you, and we hope you get through it' and I was like..." Kylie tells the camera, her thoughts trailing off. She is then unable to answer Meldrum's follow-up, which centres on the positive impact her diagnosis has had on women across the world.

 

 

After regaining her composure, a tearful Minogue returns, apologises and continues: "The reason that gets me is, and the greatest part of my job and what I do, is the humanity of it and there's certain moments where that really cuts through."

 

 

You can watch the clip below. It's stirring stuff for all concerned and comes as part of surely the most powerful interview with Kylie to date surrounding her harrowing experience. The much-publicised cancer struggle has only elevated her status in the eyes of many people, fans or not.

 

 

In 2008, she received both an OBE from the Queen for her contribution to British music and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres - France's highest cultural honour - prompting Cultural Minister Christine Albanel to speak of the "Kylie effect", which doctors say encourages young women to have regular cancer checks.

 

 

Last year, she become the face of the ‘Fashion Targets' charity campaign run by Breakthrough Breast Cancer and is now also an NSPCC ambassador, as well as an icon for sufferers across the world. With the ‘Aphrodite' world tour due to land in the UK at the end of this month, Kylie can surely expect her greatest reception yet.

 

Interview here:

 

 

OMG. She's such a lovely and down to earth person! I'm welling up myself. It's not hard to see why she is so inspirational for many, many women.

Agreed, she genuinely seems like one of the nicest, most 'real' people in the industry. It would be such a shame if she couldn't have children, even if she did have to adopt, I think they'd be very lucky to have her as a mum.

 

 

One of the things i have always loved and admired about Kylie is for someone who has had such a huge career she has always remained down to earth and level headed and genuine, i know 2 people who have been lucky enough to meet her in person and have said she is lovely and in general i have always heard positive things about kylie when the camera is turned off, that to me adds so much to her appeal. The interview was heartfelt and warm and i agree very inspirational.