When "I should be so Lucky" hit the charts at number one in 1988, no one was more surprised than Minogue herself. Her career began almost by accident, when she was heard singing with her fellow Neighbors cast mates at a charity event. The Locomotion became her first hit, and led to her signing a contract with British songwriters Stock, Aitkin and Waterman, who famously wrote "I Should Be So Lucky" for Minogue while the Neighbors star waited outside their office with her manager! Over the years, Kylie has reinvented herself to move with the times, and in the process has become so much more than a recording artist. She is a business woman, a fashion icon and, despite being heterosexual, an icon for the gay community. After a highly publicized relationship with her Neighbors co-star Jason Donovan ended, she hit the headlines with INXS front man Michael Hutchence, whom she credited for a change in style from "singing budgie" to sexy vamp. Dropping Stock, Aitkin and Waterman, she began to take control of her career, starring in The Delinquents with Charlie Schlatter and launching a self-titled album. The beginning of the "princess" phase of her career was the launch of her 1998 album "Impossible Princess". She had broken up with Hutchence but remained friends with him until his death in 1997. Once again, the press fixated on her change of image. But for Kylie, the constant evolution was just a natural part of growing up. Impossible Princess was the lowest selling album of her career to date, but in true Kylie style, she wasted no time in bouncing back. In 2000 she released "Light Years", a nod to seventies disco which gave her first number one in years – "Spinning Around". Her ninth studio album saw yet another change in image to a more mature, sultry Kylie. Along with that she ditched bad-boy model boyfriend James Gooding for French actor Olivier Martinez, star of Unfaithful and SWAT. Her private life finally coming together, it was therefore a terrible shock to be diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005. After talking marriage and babies with Martinez, she now had to put all her energies into fighting for her life. One person who knew exactly what she was going through was Olivia Newton John, who urged the press and public to let Kylie recover in private. Fans were supportive, holding onto their tickets for her Showgirl tour until she was well enough to honor the agreement. Her recovery coincided with her breakup with Martinez, however they remain friends. Kylie took her first steps toward a fairytale comeback by appearing unannounced onstage at one of her sister Dannii's concerts with a new shorter, hairstyle and a new resolve. Writing a children's book and returning to the stage for the Australian leg of her Showgirl tour were important milestones in a life she said she would never take for granted again.
