Kylie recieves top music industry award

Kylie Minogue was honoured by the record industry at a gala ceremony.

The star received the Music Industry Trust’s Award in recognition of her 20-year-career.

She was hailed as “an icon of pop and style” who has continued to “reinvent, experiment and inspire”.

The 39-year-old singer has overcome breast cancer since being diagnosed in 2005 and is about to celebrate her comeback with a new album.

Fellow stars queued up to lavish her with praise.

The ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel featured video messages of celebrities paying tribute to Minogue.

They included Sting, who told her: “I have a great deal of respect for you as an artist – and, like most men on the planet, I’m certainly not immune to your iconic beauty – but more than this, you have become a symbol of courage and of grace under pressure.”

There was also a message from Minogue’s sister, X Factor judge Dannii.

“I am so proud of you. It’s been an amazing journey and there’s still so much more to come. It’s been great to be there from the beginning,” she said.

And Minogue’s fellow Australian Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna Everage) said in his message: “Kylie, you are a triumphant artist. You’ve managed to have this tremendous career which goes on and on, and which began with Neighbours – my friend Dame Edna always wanted to be in that show.”

Minogue is the first woman in the event’s 16-year history to receive the award. Previous holders include George Martin and Elton John.

“It is an incredible honour to be the recipient of this year’s Music Industry Trust’s Award and I am truly thrilled to be recognised in this way,” she said.

The Aussie pop princess first topped the UK chart in January 1988 with debut hit I Should Be So Lucky.

Since then she has sold 40 million albums worldwide and holds the record for the most-played female artist on UK radio.

David Munns, Chairman of the Award committee, said: “There is no doubt that of our 15 Award recipients to date, Kylie is by far the most glamorous.

“She deserves this award for her success over 20 years, staying at the top in one of the toughest professions and inspiring millions with her grace, dignity and humanity.”

The ceremony in front of 1,200 guests raised money for the Brit School and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.

The event, now in its 16th year, has raised more than €3.8m for the two charities.

Minogue will release latest single '2 Hearts' on November 12, followed by her new album, X, on November 26.

Minogue closed the ceremony with a special performance.

She sang her very first UK hit, I Should Be So Lucky, accompanied on piano by jazz star Jamie Cullum.

And she also gave her first live performance of new single 2 Hearts in a duet with Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters.

Minogue wore a dazzling cappuccino-coloured evening gown covered with crystals.

The event was a family affair – she arrived with sister Dannii – who presented her with the award – while her parents Carol and Ron flew in especially from Australia.

The singer is the youngest recipient of the award.

“I’m just trying to take in this moment. It’s absolutely surreal,” she said.

“It’s like my birthday and Christmas and everything all at once.

“To be recognised in this way and to be the first woman to receive this honour makes me immensely proud.”

She went on: “It’s absolutely fitting that my little sister Dannii can give me this award as family is the most important thing to me, and I’m so very pleased that my gorgeous parents are here -they flew especially from Australia to share this with me.”

She ended by telling the audience: “I’m going to go and give my mum and dad a big cuddle.”

Other stars paying tribute to Minogue with video messages included U2, designers Dolce & Gabbana, film director Baz Luhrmann, Nick Cave, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Stock, Aitken and Waterman, the producers who guided her early pop career.

Last night’s event raised nearly €715,000 for charity.