Fans of Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue are eager to learn about her relationship history as a revealing new documentary hits Netflix this week. The three-part series, released on Wednesday, 20th May, features exclusive interviews with Kylie, her friends, family, and collaborators, delving into her inspiring life and career.
The Neighbours Romance
One of the documentary's highlights is Kylie's stint on the popular Australian soap opera Neighbours during the 1980s, where she played Charlene Mitchell. It was on set that she met her ex-boyfriend Jason Donovan, who portrayed her on-screen sweetheart Scott Robinson. The pair even tied the knot in an episode broadcast in the UK on 8th November 1988 to millions of viewers.
Despite Charlene and Scott staying together long after leaving the series, Kylie and Jason's real-life relationship sadly did not last much longer after they said goodbye to Erinsborough. So, why did Kylie and Jason break up?
The Beginning of Their Relationship
Kylie and Jason, both now 57, started their stints on Neighbours in 1986, and their relationship followed soon after. The pop star recently told The Sunday Times: 'We fancied each other. The love story in the show came first, and then it became a real thing.'
They dated for three years before Kylie left Neighbours in 1988, with Jason following suit in 1989. Their relationship ended that same year after both stars pursued musical careers. While they duetted on the UK number one single Especially For You in 1988, they soon decided to focus on solo projects.
The Breakup and New Love
Kylie then began dating INXS band member Michael Hutchence in 1989, just a few months later, staying together until 1991. Interestingly, Jason played a major role in bringing them together, having secured backstage passes for INXS's tour in 1988. Jason revealed: 'I wasn't the only one to notice the buzz between Kylie and Michael that night. I'd noticed him staring at her when we met backstage. He kept whispering in her hair and she kept laughing.'
Although neither Kylie nor Jason has divulged a single reason for the breakup, it is generally believed that demanding schedules combined with Kylie and Michael's connection led to their relationship falling apart. However, despite the painful split, they have remained on good terms.
Life After the Split
Jason recently told the Big Issue: 'Was [Kylie] my first love? Probably. And it was not an easy break-up. She and I were so connected personally and professionally, it's a very difficult relationship to escape. And not only that, we were in everyone's living room across the world. It's quite a unique position.'
Though Jason has also shared that he has a lot of 'respect and admiration' for Kylie. She, in turn, recently divulged to The Sunday Times ahead of the Netflix documentary: 'I've texted [Jason] some doozies while I was looking through all the old photos and video footage of us together. I told him he better start collecting things for his doc.'
Jason has been married to Angela Malloch since 2008, and they share three children together. Kylie, meanwhile, is currently single following her split from GQ executive Paul Solomons in 2023. KYLIE is available to stream on Netflix.
