Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum has been announced as the next inductee into the ARIA Hall Of Fame.
The 71-year-old music journalist, famous for his Countdown show, will be the first non-musician to go on the list of musical icons after his induction at next month’s ARIA Awards.
As ecstatic as Molly was, he may have been outmatched in excitement by his good friend Kylie Minogue, who admitted she teared up after hearing the big news.
‘Molly, I wiped away your tears when you inducted me into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2011, and I wish you’d been there to wipe away my tears when I heard that you will be inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame This Year!’ she said.
The songstress continued to dote, saying that watching Countdown was a tradition for families across the country.
Normally it’s Molly that’s promoting or celebrating the career of others, but Kylie added that it’s about time it was the other way around.
‘The Australian music industry is blessed to have had you in our lives for over four decades and I love that the rest of Australia can celebrate YOU on November 26.’
Molly was touched by the acknowledgement, saying ‘to be recognised by my peers and to be the first person who isn’t a musician inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame is such an honour.’
‘To think for over four decades I have had the luxury of working in an industry that I absolutely love and am so passionate about and then to be recognised for it makes me reflect on what an amazing life I live.’
He’s no stranger to the Hall Of Fame ceremony, having inducted Kylie, John Paul Young and Normie Rowe during his long career in music.
It’s also not his first Hall Of Fame Induction – he was inducted into the Logies Hall Of Fame in 2012, where Elton John called him the single most important influence on Australian pop music.
Molly famously hosted Countdown from 1974-1987, after which he became a record producer while remaining active in music journalism.
Jack of all trades: After Countdown he remained a prominent music journalist, Australian personality and went on to become a successful record producer
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