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From soap to superstar: The Neighbours alumni who ruled the music charts

For generations of viewers, Neighbours didn’t just give us beloved characters — it doubled as a pop-star factory, launching global icons like Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem and Natalie Imbruglia.

Last hurrah for 'Neighbours'

Iconic Aussie soap opera Neighbours has turbo charged many acting careers, but the legendary show has also been a hit factory, churning out chart topping performers who have landed hits around the world.

A Neighbours Spotify list would include the likes of Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem, Natalie Imbruglia and Jason Donovan.

A soundtrack album of the show was even released in 2003 featuring a compilation of songs played on the soap or performed by cast members.

A deep dive on Ramsay Street’s hit makers throws up some big names, while some forgotten tracks also emerge.

After 40 years, the final episode of Neighbours will air on Channel 10 on December 11, 2025.

Kylie Minogue in her gold hotpants in the video for Spinning Around. Picture: Instagram
Kylie Minogue in her gold hotpants in the video for Spinning Around. Picture: Instagram

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue was already making her presence felt on Neighbours when she took part in a Fitzroy Football Club fundraising concert in 1986 singing I Got You Babe with actor John Waters and then performing The Loco-Motion. She recorded a demo of the song which was passed on to Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski, who signed her to his label in early 1987. The rest is history with Minogue going on to have a global pop career that continues to see her play arenas around the world. Included in her huge catalogue of hits are pop classics like Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Spinning Around and Padam Padam.

Delta Goodrem released hits like “Hearts On The Run” and “Dear Life”. Picture: Supplied
Delta Goodrem released hits like “Hearts On The Run” and “Dear Life”. Picture: Supplied

Delta Goodrem

Delta Goodrem used Neighbours to propel her first big single Born To Try into the music charts in 2002. Goodrem played Nina Tucker on the show, a shy schoolgirl character with a dream to sing.

Singer Natalie Imbruglia’s song Torn became a generation defining jam. Picture: Supplied
Singer Natalie Imbruglia’s song Torn became a generation defining jam. Picture: Supplied

Natalie Imbruglia

Natalie Imbruglia got her breakthrough as an actor on Neighbours playing Beth Brennan from 1992 to 1994. She moved to London after quitting the show to pursue a recording career. In 1997 she released Torn which became an instant classic.

Holly Valance’s debut single was a number one hit in Australia and the UK in 2002. Picture: Supplied
Holly Valance’s debut single was a number one hit in Australia and the UK in 2002. Picture: Supplied

Holly Valance

A woman of many talents, Holly Valance played Felicity Scully on Neighbours from 1999 to 2002 before departing Ramsay Street to focus on music. Her debut single, Kiss Kiss went to number one in Australia and the UK in 2002.

Donovan signed as a recording artist with UK hit makers PWL in 1988. Picture: Supplied
Donovan signed as a recording artist with UK hit makers PWL in 1988. Picture: Supplied

Jason Donovan

Jason Donovan is one of Neighbours most famous musical success stories. Donovan played Scott Robinson, boyfriend then husband of Kylie Minogue’s character Charlene Mitchell, on the show from 1986 to 1989. He signed as a recording artist with UK hit makers PWL in 1988 and released his first single, Nothing Can Divide Us, that year. His next single was Especially For You, a duet with Minogue, that sold more than a million copies in the UK.

Guy Pearce on stage with the Unconscious Brothers at the Queenscliff Music Festival. Picture: Supplied
Guy Pearce on stage with the Unconscious Brothers at the Queenscliff Music Festival. Picture: Supplied

Guy Pearce

Oscar nominated actor Guy Pearce, who played Mike Young on Neighbours, has long dabbled in music. He has released two albums, Broken Bones and The Nomad and appears on the soundtrack to the film, A Slipping Down Life.

Neighbours star Stefan Dennis released the single Don't It make You Feel Good in 1989. Picture: Supplied
Neighbours star Stefan Dennis released the single Don't It make You Feel Good in 1989. Picture: Supplied

Stefan Dennis

Stefan Dennis, famous for playing Ramsay Street villain Paul Robinson, gave music a crack in 1989, releasing a couple of singles. His first track, Don’t It Make You Feel Good, reached No. 16 in Britain.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte’s hit song Voodoo Child landed her and the Rogue Traders a spot at the 2015 NRL grand final. Picture: Supplied
Natalie Bassingthwaighte’s hit song Voodoo Child landed her and the Rogue Traders a spot at the 2015 NRL grand final. Picture: Supplied

Natalie Bassingthwaighte

Natalie Bassingthwaighte, who was Izzy Hoyland on Neighbours from 2003 to 2006 joined the band Rogue Traders in 2004. They released their first single featuring Bassingthwaighte as their lead singer, Voodoo Child, in May 2005.

Alan Fletcher

Music has been a passion of Alan Fletcher’s for decades. Best known for playing Dr Karl Kennedy on Neighbours, Fletcher released the track, If You Want a Happy Christmas, in 2013. He has released the EPs Dispatches (2023) and Let’s Talk About Love (2025) and the albums The Point (2023) and Back to School (2025). Fletcher has been touring extensively with his band over the past few years.

Stephanie McIntosh produced one album titled Tightrope. Picture: Supplied
Stephanie McIntosh produced one album titled Tightrope. Picture: Supplied

Stephanie McIntosh

Stephanie McIntosh, who playing Sky Mangel from 2003 to 2007, launched a singing career while a full-time cast member of the Neighbours. She released first single Mistake in 2006 which was soon followed by her one and only album called Tightrope.

Bonnie Anderson

Bonnie Anderson, who won Australia’s Got Talent in 2007, was an established singer long before she joined Neighbours in 2018 for a two-year stint playing Bea Nilsson. Anderson released a single, Sorry, in 2019 which she performed as part of Bea’s Neighbours storyline. Anderson also sang a new version of the Neighbours theme song during her time on the show.

Dean Geyer left Neighbours to concentrate on his singing career. Picture: Supplied
Dean Geyer left Neighbours to concentrate on his singing career. Picture: Supplied

Dean Geyer

Having finished third on Australian Idol in 2006 and released an album, Rush, in 2007, Dean Geyer joined Neighbours in 2008. He played Ty Harper on the show for a year, during which time he recorded a track, Unforgettable, with his co-star Caitlin Stacey which they performed on the soap. After Neighbours Geyer moved to the US where he found success as an actor.

Gillian and Gayle Blakeney released a singles in the early nineties. Picture: Supplied
Gillian and Gayle Blakeney released a singles in the early nineties. Picture: Supplied

Gayle and Gillian Blakeney

Model twins Gayle and Gillian Blakeney went from Neighbours to music in the early 1990s. They released a single in England in 1991 under the name of The Twins, called All Mixed Up. In 1993, performing as Gayle & Gillian, they released a single, Mad If Ya Don’t, and followed that up with the track Wanna Be Your Lover in 1994.

Ian Smith and Anne Charleston

Harold (Ian Smith) and Madge (Anne Charleston) ventured into the recording studio in 1989 and emerged with the festive season track, Old Fashioned Christmas.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/from-soap-to-superstar-the-neighbours-alumni-who-ruled-the-music-charts/news-story/2b88f3e0554ac48d5fd1936060ea7678