Kylie Minogue Discusses Her Welsh Heritage and Language Knowledge

Pop superstar Kylie Minogue, widely recognized as a prominent Australian figure and former Neighbours actress, possesses significant Welsh heritage and is familiar with some Welsh phrases. Minogue’s family originated from Maesteg in Bridgend county before relocating to Australia in the 1950s. She has frequently acknowledged her Welsh ancestry, noting that performing in Cardiff holds particular significance for her. Her mother, Carol Jones, was 10 years old when she, along with her own mother, Millie Jones, emigrated to Australia. During an interview with Rylan on his BBC Radio 2 programme, Minogue, 56, reflected on the significant transition her family underwent by moving from Wales to Australia. She stated, “I just think of my grandparents going from like the valleys of Wales to, first they moved to the North Queensland, where there’s mangos falling off trees and a snake in the letterbox,” adding, “What a change.” Minogue also mentioned that she uses the Welsh terms “nain” and “taid” for her grandmother and grandfather, respectively. In 1994, Millie Jones, Minogue’s grandmother who will be 104 this December, appeared on Heno S4C during a trip to Wales. Speaking in Welsh, she expressed her pride in her grandchildren, Kylie and Dannii, who is also a singer and actress, saying, “I’m really glad that they did so well and went so far.” While on holiday in Gwynedd, she remarked, “It’s lovely to come back to Blaenau Ffestiniog to listen to the language. “I don’t get much chance in Australia. No-one speaks Welsh.”” In a 2021 conversation with Carol Vorderman on BBC Radio Wales, Minogue described her “nain” as a “strong character” in her life. She commented, “I like to think that part of me, the almost too chatty most of the time, and will always have something to say, or will try to make a little quip – I think that comes from my nain.” She further added, “Also she taught me how to sew and cut patterns when I was 14 and I was learning about altering clothes to fit me and to knit.” In 2020, Minogue informed Jonathan Ross on his show that she knows only a limited number of Welsh phrases and identified herself as “half Welsh.” She stated, “I literally know diolch yn fawr (thank you very much). The one word we used to hear as kids is ‘ych a fi’, which means ‘yuck’.” Minogue, who previously dated Paul Solomons, GQ magazine’s creative director from Caerphilly, recounted how he made a favorable impression on her “nain” by conversing with her in Welsh. Minogue observed, “I don’t know what she’s saying but you can just see her come to life and loved someone speaking Welsh to her.”