Kylie Minogue awarded American Australian Association’s Excellence in Arts Award
Australian pop legend Kylie Minogue has been honoured at New York ceremony raising money for bushfire relief.
Entertainment
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Australian pop legend Kylie Minogue has been honoured at glitzy star-studded New York ceremony raising money for bushfire relief.
Minogue, who received the American Australian Association’s Excellence in Arts Award, said the bushfire crisis had touched people around the world.
“There’s been such an outpouring of love for Australia,” she said.
Minogue, 51, said it would have been a “struggle” to attend a ceremony like this while knowing how many lives had been devastated back home.
“The fact that all proceeds are going to bushfire relief makes me happy,” she said.
The pop superstar said she was glad she spent “a quiet” Christmas in Australia.
“Obviously it is global news, but to have been there … well, I’m quite glad I was,” she said.
She also had a message for the people of Australia who are doing it tough.
“As always they have my love, they have my devotion. I’m thinking of them constantly.”
Naomi Watts also paid tribute to Australia’s “hero” firefighters at ceremony.
“I have fantastic faith in our firemen and women and in what they’ve been doing,” Watts told News Corp Australia.
“They’ve been working so hard - it’s so impressive. They’re our heroes and I’m sending all my love and gratitude to them.”
Also feted at the event were acclaimed Aussie author Peter Carey and rising star Jacob Elordi, who was accompanied by his Euphoria co-star Zendaya.
Watts, who attended with Deborra-Lee Furness, said the event was a good opportunity to get ex-pat Aussies in the room together to raise more money for the people and wildlife affected by our devastating fires.
“I mean, there are so many feelings tonight. Kylie’s one of our national treasures; she’s gorgeous. I could think of no better person to celebrate,” Watts said.
“But to also come together and to see the community try and help this horrific situation in the best way they can. And everyone obviously is being so supportive and the goodwill from everyone out there for our country is wonderful. That’s the good news in this horrific time.”
Watts, who spent Christmas in Shoalhaven Heads near Nowra in New South Wales, which has been impacted by the fires, said she felt “hopeless and powerless by the situation”.
“You just want to do something to help and the best we can do is raise money.”
The American Australian Association’s President, John Berry, called Minogue “an Australian icon and superstar”.
“Kylie’s presence here tonight is an inspiration for the next generation of artists that will follow in her footsteps,” Mr Berry told News Corp Australia.
“Many Australians living away from home are currently feeling the impact of the fires and looking for a way they can give back to their home country.”
Furness also paid tribute to Minogue.
“I’ve known Kylie since she was a mere child, and what is hilarious is that I am about to go down to Australia to direct a block of Neighbours episodes, so I need to tell Kylie that.
“But I love celebrating Kylie – I’ve known her since she was a kid, and I love that all the funds tonight are different in that the American Australian Association is giving it all to bushfire relief so that’s a great thing.”
Furness also had a message for those suffering at home.
“There is so much support,” Furness said. “For me, living in New York, I have felt the love from America – I think they’ve been amazing and everyone I’ve talked to have been like, Oh my god, what can I do? Everyone is there with them. So they should know that. Everyone cares and everyone wants to help.”