Toucan

Kylie Minogue is to receive one of the highest French cultural honours next week.

The Australian popstar, 39, is to be made a knight in the Order of Arts and Letters, which is awarded to those who have made a large contribution to the arts in France and the world, by the French government at a ceremony in Paris on May 5th.

Minogue, whose world tour, Kylie X 2008, begins at the Paris Bercy arena the next night, said: "I am deeply honoured to be recognised in this way."

The singer will be presented with the Chevalier dans L'ordre des Arts et Lettres, previously received by the likes of Bob Dylan, Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman Ella Fitzgerald and T S Eliot, by the French minister of culture and communications, Christine Albanel.

Minogue, who turns 40 later this month, said: "French culture has influenced me greatly and I have always had colossal respect for the arts and people of France."

This news follows Minogue being awarded Germany's top show business honour, the Golden Camera, an 18 carat gold-plated sterling silver replica of the first electronic TV camera, for best international music act at a ceremony in Berlin in February.

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