Australian pop queen Kylie Minogue has been selected to receive the 2013 JC Williamson Award recognizing outstanding contributions to her native country's live entertainment and performing arts industry.  The international singing star will receive the award as part of the Helpmann Awards ceremony on July 29th at the world-famous Sydney Opera House.  Past recipients of the award include the late opera legend Dame Joan Sutherland, singer John Farnham and Michael Gudinki, the chairman of Mushroom Records, which has played an important role in Minogue's career.

"A moment like this makes me so proud to represent the Australian entertainment industry," Minogue said in a statement released Friday.  "As a country we have, and we nurture, extraordinary talent.  Long may this continue."  Born in Melbourne, Minogue has enjoyed tremendous international success in her 25 years in the music industry, selling more than 70 million records worldwide and completing 10 successful world tours.  The JC Williamson is just the latest award for the singer, who became the first woman to win Britains Music Industry Trusts Award in 2007 and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2011.