Teary Kylie thanks fans for support

Kylie Minogue says she has set a new benchmark for being late.

The pop singer has made a triumphant return to performing, after a forced
18-month break to undergo treatment for breast cancer.

An emotional Minogue held back tears as she thanked fans for their support
during the first concert of her renamed Showgirl Homecoming Tour in Sydney
on Saturday night.

"I have thought about this moment for a long time," she told the thousands
of fans at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

"And I tried to practise in my head what I was going to say ... I couldn't
prepare anything, I really couldn't.

"So I am just going to say what comes to me. Generally I am, like, 10
minutes late ... this is officially fashionably late, a year-and-a-half, but
I mean fashionably.

"So thanks so much for all your thoughts and wishes. I am really glad to be
here, thank you all."

The 2004 Grammy winner was diagnosed with cancer days before she was due to
start the final leg of her Showgirl World Tour in Australia.

The tour was postponed indefinitely and fans were told to hold onto their
tickets.

After three concerts in Sydney this month, Minogue and her Showgirl troupe
will travel to Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. They will then head back to
Europe, playing dates in the UK from January 2.

"Dad, you're in the audience, this is for you," a teary Minogue said to her
father Ron, before singing Especially For You.

Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year. She underwent
successful surgery in Melbourne that month, followed by chemotherapy
treatment in Paris, where her French actor boyfriend, Olivier Martinez, has
a home.

The singer's fans weren't disappointed last night as she performed hits
including Better The Devil You Know, In Your Eyes, On A Night Like This,
Spinning Around, I Believe In You, Can't Get You Out Of My Head and Light
Years.

She also sang her new song, White Diamond, which she penned with American
pop group Scissor Sisters, and covers of Somewhere Over The Rainbow and
Madonna's Vogue.

"I'm just going to try and enjoy the moment, roll with the crowd and take a
few more risks and just let go," Minogue told journalists last week when
asked about the show.

She was at her energetic best last night, performing fast-paced dance moves
throughout the three-hour show.

Known for her cutting edge fashion, she wore costumes specially designed by
John Galliano, Gareth Pugh, Dolce and Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld and Emilio
Pucci.