Kylie Minogue Honored By Queen Elizabeth

Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year's Honors list.

Minogue got her showbiz break as tomboy mechanic Charlene in the Australian soap opera "Neighbors." In 1987, she had her first No. 1 single with "I Should be so Lucky."

She took a break in her career after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.

"I feel deeply touched to be acknowledged by the U.K., my adopted home, in this way," Minogue said in Australia.

"This last year I have felt so much love and support from everyone as I took greater steps back into the public domain, and it is with absolute gratitude and joy that I say farewell to 2007 and look forward to what the New Year will bring."