Decades on, the world still just can’t get Kylie Minogue out of their heads. The singer was recently named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 in the icon category, where her name would be embedded next to trailblazers Hayao Miyazaki, Sofia Coppola, and Taraji P. Henson, to name a few.
The Padam Padam singer took to Facebook to thank her fans, stating how mind-blowing the feat was for her; not really mindblowing when you consider that Kylie is the highest-selling Australian female artist and was the first woman to top the UK charts across five decades.
Minogue had us hooked from her time on Neighbours, and we never let her go, through eras of her debut album Kylie in 1988, Enjoy Yourself in 1989, followed by her anticipated eras of Aphrodite (2010), Golden (2018), Disco (2020) and her newest release Tension (2023).
So, how did TIME choose Kylie for their list?
“We spend months discussing who belongs on the TIME100, the people who we believe most changed the stories that define the past year,” stated TIME journalist Sam Jacobs in explaining 2024’s selection process.
The TIME 100 panel was led by ten talented people, from strategists and journalists to designers and photographers. The list contains figures from a wide range of expertise, such as medicine, politics, activism, sports, art, music, and religion.
“Influence, we know, is complex: it can be for better and for worse; it can span generations, categories, and perspectives,” Jones stated.
“TIME100 is an unparalleled way for us to tell essential stories about the people and ideas that shape and improve the world.”
As good as her music is, Kylie also matches this talent with generosity and ambition.
The singer has recorded songs in seven different languages, closed the Sydney Olympics in 2000 to an audience of four billion, has performed on nearly every continent on earth, and has received an honorary Doctorate of Health Science for her work on Breast Cancer Awareness, helping to advocate for millions.
As of this decade, Minogue has kept busy becoming the next biggest LGBTQ+ ally. The community adopted her song Padam Padam and spun all night long during the most recent Mardi Gras.
Kylie Minogue was one of 51 women and over a dozen entertainers on the list this year, and most notably, is the only Australian. Last year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the list.
Coldplay singer Chris Martin wrote a moving summary of Kylie’s achievements for TIME, stating:
“Kylie is so inspiring to me—she lives her life so gracefully and approaches every project with such passion and dedication. She always seems to be ten years ahead of everyone else, and she’s an artist who knows how to be of service, making songs that fans go on to love for years,” he wrote.
“Kylie creates a space where everyone is safe to be themselves. When I look at her, I feel hope. She’s proof there are humans who don’t judge.”
