Global pop icon Kylie Minogue has marked what would have been the 66th birthday of her late former partner, Michael Hutchence, with a touching social media homage. The Australian superstar, now 57, shared a nostalgic snapshot from their early 1990s romance on her Instagram account, captioning the image simply with "selfie mode" and white heart symbols.
A Timeless Connection Remembered
The tribute arrives nearly three decades after the INXS frontman's tragic death by suicide at age 37 in November 1997. Minogue and Hutchence, whose relationship captivated fans during its on-and-off course between 1987 and 1990, first appeared publicly as a couple at the premiere of her 1989 film The Delinquents.
Supernatural Sentiments and Musical Inspiration
In a poignant revelation from last year, Minogue disclosed her belief that Hutchence may have orchestrated a mysterious return of a cherished ring from beyond the grave. The jewellery, a gift from the singer during their courtship, vanished from her home only to reappear via anonymous post long after his passing. "I think that he, in an otherworldly way, returned it to me," she confided to The Telegraph in 2023.
Their influential connection extended into Hutchence's creative work, with Minogue recently confirming she served as the muse for his band's 1990 chart-topping single Suicide Blonde. The title derived from the description of her character's wig colour in The Delinquents, a film they discussed shortly after meeting. "Anything he wrote at that time, well, I was around," Minogue hinted, suggesting further tracks from INXS's X album may bear her imprint.
A Protective Bond and Lasting Heartache
Reflecting on their dynamic in the 2019 documentary Mystify: Michael Hutchence, Minogue acknowledged the public perception of their pairing as "pure, good girl dating this dark, bad boy" held truth. Yet she emphasised feeling profoundly "safe with him" and credited Hutchence with awakening her desires during her late teens. "He opened up a whole new world for me," she recalled, describing a relationship steeped in "pleasure" and intellectual curiosity.
Despite never anticipating permanence, Minogue confessed their eventual separation left her "confounded and destroyed." She admitted, "Yeah, he broke my heart. I have to confess, the hurt stays for quite a long time." Following their split, Hutchence pursued relationships with supermodel Helena Christensen and later with television presenter Paula Yates, with whom he had his only child before his untimely death.
The enduring nature of Minogue's tribute underscores the lasting impact of their brief but significant romance, reminding fans of the human stories behind iconic musical legacies.
