Illness forces Kylie to Call Off Shows

Australian singer, songwriter and occasional actress Kylie Minogue had to cancel her two upcoming shows on Sunday due to some problem in the respiratory tract.

Minogue, who had just returned to singing after treatment of breast cancer, which she discovered in mid 2005, even had to pull out halfway through a Saturday night performance in the northwest English city of Manchester due to the flu.

"She is not going to perform tomorrow (Monday) or on Tuesday," said a spokesperson for the Manchester Evening News arena, where Minogue was due to perform for her Showgirl Homecoming Tour.

"She has been diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and the doctors have advised her not to perform in the near future," he said.

Organizers said that canceling performances would give time to Minogue to recover and give blasting performances on Thursday and Friday.

The star's management said in a statement that "promoters are hoping to reschedule at the earliest opportunity."

Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in Melbourne for her tour. She underwent surgery on 21 May 2005 at the private Catholic Cabrini Hospital in Malvern. Soon after, Minogue commenced chemotherapy as part of her treatment regimen.

After recovering in December 2005, the pop diva returned to singing and recording albums.

On 11 November 2006, Minogue resumed her Showgirl Homecoming Tour in Sydney. The concert was reworked, taking in account her medical condition, and many breaks were introduced between sections of the show to see that Minogue doesn’t feel tired. However, the media reported that the singer performed energetically and shook the audiences with her voice.

She had to perform 6 concerts in Manchester’s, after launching the British leg of her tour with a New Year’s Eve show in London. The show was an extra sell out, and Minogue was supported by ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again. Her sister Dannii joined her onstage for the final show on January 9, 2007, for a surprise duet on ‘Kids’ and more sibling raillery at the close of the show.

Kylie Minogue, born on May 28, 1968, rose to fame in the late 1980s due to her performance in the Australian soap opera ‘Neighbours’.

After signing contracts with British songwriters and producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman, Minogue delivered a large number of hits. But her career began to decline in early 1990s, leading her to wave goodbye to Stock, Aitken and Waterman.

In 2000, she again rose to fame and came to be known for her provocative videos and posh mounted stage shows.

She is reputable as one of the best and most triumphant performer in modern pop music, and in Europe and Australia, she has become one of her generation's most decipherable celebrities and sex symbols.