Whatever happened to Kim Wilde?

Surely you remember that catchy song: "We're the kids in America!" Well, that was Kim Wilde's voice, and she turned it into a mega-hit.

In fact, the blonde was the most successful female singer of the 80s in the UK. She scored hits with a cover of 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' and original songs like 'Cambodia,' or 'You Came.'

What has Kim Wilde done since the 80s? Her music career spans 40 years. Let's have a look at her beginnings and her adventures in music and her life over time.

Born Kim Smith in Chiswick, England, on November 18, 1960, the famous blonde has been a pop singer, TV presenter, and DJ from a young age.

Kim's musical talents came directly from her parents. Her father was Reginald Smith, better known as Marty Wilde, a rockabilly singer and songwriter in the 1950s. Her mother, Joyce Baker, was part of the 'Vernons Girls' singing and dancing group.

In 1980, when she was only 20 years old, Kim Wilde signed a deal with the British label RAK Records.

Kim's father and her brother Ricky (photo) wrote nearly all of her songs until the mid-80s. They were influenced by artists like the Stranglers, The Clash, Sex Pistols, and Kraftwerk.

Marty and Ricky were responsible for the song 'Kids in America,' which was Kim's first and biggest hit. Released in January 1981, it topped the British and American charts and is still regularly on the radio today.

Kim Wilde kept releasing records in the following years while performing in TV shows and concert halls across the world. Her hit singles included 'Cambodia' (1982), 'The Second Time' (1984), 'You Keep Me Hangin' on,' a cover of the Supremes song in 1986, and 'You Came' (1988).

Kim Wilde's 1988 album 'Close' became the best selling of her repertoire and the most successful in Britain. Once again, she gave concerts in Europe, opening for Michael Jackson's 'Bad' tour. Two years later, she toured with David Bowie.

Wilde is considered the most sought-after British female solo artist of the 1980s, with seventeen Top 40 hits in the UK. After the glorious decade, she wouldn't make that many headlines anymore, even though she kept making music.

Kim Wilde continued to work in showbiz. In 1995 she performed in the musical 'The Who's Tommy,' based on The Who's 1969 rock opera, 'Tommy.' It was there that she met her husband Hal Fowler.

The couple had two children: Harry Tristan in 1998 and Rose in 2000.

During the pregnancy of her son Harry, Kim explored her long-standing interest in gardening. In fact, she went to Capel Manor College to study horticulture.

Since then, Kim Wilde has published two gardening books: 'Gardening with Children' and the beginner's guide 'The First-Time Gardener.'

Meanwhile, she also returned to the pop charts. In 2003, Kim Wilde joined hands with another 80s icon, the German singer Nena, known for the song '99 Red Balloons.' They sang 'Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime,' a song reminiscent of their sounds in the 80s. It was a hit in northern European countries that had never forgotten about the 80s star.

During the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, Kim Wilde recorded a song with Boy George from Culture Club. Their song 'Shine On' became a hit. As she told 'Best' magazine, Kim really wanted to participate in the duet with Boy George: "he's such an icon!"

According to Retro Pop magazine, a duet album is in the stars for Kim Wilde. Her brother told the magazine that "it’s very possible. We’ve got so many wonderful friends in the industry and I know there's so many people that would love to work with Kim."

There's also been some unfortunate personal news for Kim Wilde. In December 2022, she and Hal Fowler announced that they had "amicably separated" and divorced. The couple had been together for 25 years.

There's no way that Kim Wilde, now in her sixties, is sitting still at home though. She continues to give concerts on the international stage. As she told the Irish Mirror, "I didn’t really believe that there would still be an audience for me as a married mum of two kids... But the audiences love it, which is a beautiful surprise."

Kim Wilde has proven that she can adapt to changes and still is an international pop idol. In the summer of 2023, she is touring Germany, the UK, and Switzerland, and for 2024, concerts in France, Belgium, and The Netherlands are on the planner.