Australian pop star Kylie Minogue is honoured by the French government and
is made a knight in the Order of Arts and Letters.

PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 5, 2008) REUTERS -

Australian singer Kylie Minogue was honoured  by the Culture
Minister Christine Albanel who proclaimed her a Knight of the Order of Arts
and Letters in a ceremony in Paris on Monday (May 5).
    "Each time you make an appearance, it is a little moment of grace,
your concerts are real achievements, you have outstanding choregraphies and
they give the full measure of your talent and your agility," said
Christine Albanel.
    Minogue, the queen of the pop,  sold some 40 million albums world-wide
since her debut. For a long time, she was presented as Madonna's rival.
    Minogue is also in Paris to kick off her world tour  and is due to
perform at Bercy stadium in Paris on Tuesday night (May 6) to the delight of
her fans worried after the cancellation of her last tour and since the
announcement of her breast cancer. Her last album entitled "X" was
launched in November 2007.
    The prestigious French decoration, was issued  some 50 years ago, and
previously awarded to other music celebrities such as Celine Dion, Diana Ross,
Patti Smith or Bob Dylan as well as Hollywood film stars like Bruce Willis,
Leonardo DiCaprio, Penelope Cruz Uma Thurman or Michael Douglas. The Order of
Arts and Letters is a recognition awarded to artists who contributed
significantly to promote of the arts in France and around the world.