Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue has opened up about one of the most personal and difficult chapters of her life in her new three-part Netflix docuseries Kylie, which premiered on May 20, 2026. The 57-year-old singer shared that she postponed chemotherapy following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2005 to undergo multiple rounds of IVF treatment in hopes of starting a family.
At the time of her diagnosis, Minogue was 36 and in a relationship with French actor Olivier Martinez. She had been eager to have children when doctors delivered the news that would change her life. In the documentary, she candidly describes the emotional dilemma she faced.
“I even postponed my chemotherapy to try — which was quite scary at the time because you just want it out. Gone. I want to feel safe, I don’t want this,” Minogue says. “But yeah, I did try a few times with IVF, always it was with such a thread of hope. But I couldn’t not try.”
She added that success would have been “just shy of a miracle,” but the attempts ultimately did not result in a pregnancy. The revelation highlights the singer’s long-held desire for motherhood, a topic she has touched on in interviews over the years but never detailed so intimately.
The docuseries, directed by Michael Harte, serves as a comprehensive and unfiltered look at Minogue’s extraordinary career — from her early days as a soap star on Neighbours to her status as a global pop superstar with over 80 million records sold. It draws from her personal archives and features reflections on highs, lows, relationships (including with INXS frontman Michael Hutchence), and her resilience in the face of adversity.
In addition to the IVF story, Minogue discloses in the series that she secretly battled an early-stage second breast cancer diagnosis in early 2021. Unlike her highly publicised 2005 experience, she chose to keep this private, describing herself as a “shell of a person” during treatment while continuing to release music, including her acclaimed DISCO album.
Fans and critics have praised the documentary for its emotional depth and honesty. The IVF revelation, in particular, has been highlighted as one of the standout moments, offering insight into the personal sacrifices behind Minogue’s public image of strength and glamour.
Kylie is now streaming on Netflix, giving audiences a closer look at the woman behind the hits and the quiet battles she fought while continuing to captivate the world.
About The Author
