Kylie Minogue makes it into Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list… it only took them four decades to catch on

Australian entertainer Kylie Minogue has made it into Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list for 2024. It’s a surprise entry, many Australians would feel, namely because we’ve known and loved – heck, even been inspired by – her for almost 40 years already.

There could be a few reasons for Time’s dilatory judging panel finally picking our Kylie for inclusion in their top 100. First, she currently has a Vegas residency and while this might signal the death knell of some celebrity careers, for a middle-aged antipodean singer to fill the position suddenly looks cool. And let’s face it, it does.

Kylie’s celebrity enjoyed huge resurrection last year when she released the catchy-as-hell single Padam Padam. The song went on to garner millions of streams and posited the pop star back at top of mind with the public. Mind you, she’s always been top of mind to much of her gay following, some of whom, like me, have kept tabs on her career for going on four decades.

Last month Kylie had her likeness turned into a Barbie doll – one of eight dolls inspired by legendary women in celebration of International Women’s Day. Recently she’s been spotted attending LA film premieres, and last month appeared on stage with Madonna during the singer’s Celebration tour, to co-sing the gay club classic I Will Survive, no less.

It’s likely Time‘s judges realised Kylie’s tenacity and her strength to remain relevant in such a fast, fickle (often faceless) music industry. Outside of making music, tackling social media, all while managing to maintain some semblance of real life, the 55-year-old has the time and energy to pull off a nightly Vegas show. Kudos to that.

Kylie probably has a third of the entertainment industry wondering how she manages to stay relevant in such a fast-changing, heavily digitised, news-today/nothing-tomorrow world. Barbie Kylie, anyone?

The Time article on Kylie was penned by Coldplay’s Chris Martin who gushes throughout the one-minute-read like the true fan that he is.

“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,” writes Chris, adding “[her] star has never dimmed. It’s an honour and a privilege to know her, and she is deserving of every good thing that happens to her.”

True that. When in her element, Kylie has a certain grace about her that celebrities half her age should wish they could learn.

Of course, like the rest of us, the star has her down days, but the chirpy icon we know and love is a walking, talking example of keeping your chin up and boldly moving forward through life, never forgetting to occasionally smell the roses (memo to J-Lo: not to dress up like one).

While fulltime love hasn’t exactly been forthcoming for Kylie, accolades from fans and praise from industry should surely be keeping the star content.

On that note, here’s to one of Australia’s greatest showgirls being recognised by that ol’ bastion of politics and culture in America.

About bloody time, too.

Antonino Tati