Aussie Singer Receives France's Highest Cultural Honor

Australian singer Kylie Minogue has received the Chevalier Dans L'Ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres decoration, France's highest cultural honor.

She received the honor in Paris from French Culture Minister Christine Albaniel who said the singer was a "Midas of the international music scene who turns everything she touches into gold."

The minister also praised Kylie over her fight against breast cancer.

"I want to publicly salute the courage you showed by revealing publicly that you had breast cancer," Albanel was quoted as saying. "Doctors now even go as far as saying there is a 'Kylie effect' that encourages young women to have regular checks."

Kylie received the French honor on the eve of a European concert tour which was to kick off in Paris.

Past recipients of the French award include singers Bob Dylan and David Bowie and Hollywood stars George Clooney, Leonardo Di Caprio, Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis.

• Kylie Minogue: Australian Singer and Pop Princess

Photo: Kylie Minogue on receiving the French decoration (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)