Kim Wilde reveals the different career she was planning before the success of 'Kids in America'

Kim Wilde is known for her hits 'Kids In America', 'You Keep Me Hangin' On', and 'Another Step (Closer to You)', but things could have been very different for the singer if her debut hit hadn't been a huge success.

Speaking to mirror.co.uk, the 80s pop icon revealed how growing up in a house with her dad, famed rock ’n’ roll icon Marty, meant she was surrounded by music, but she was just a teenager looking for work when her debut hit was being written.

"Mum sent me to the Job Centre and they said, 'What do you want to do?'" Kim reminisced, "I said, 'I want to work in a record shop.' A few months later, a record shop in Hertford needed an assistant and the Job Centre sent me details!"

The 59-year-old singer went on to reveal, "I felt pretty ­confident I could get the job because I had an immense music knowledge. We almost had a record shop in the house.

"But 'Kids in America' charted and scuppered my plans. I was all set to have my dream job and it got snatched away from me by a hit record."

However, Kim was far from a one-hit wonder, with her self-titled debut album going to Number 3 in the UK, with three very popular singles including, 'Kids In America', 'Chequered Love', and 'Water on Glass'.

Now, nearly 40 years on, Kim, and her dad Marty have now released their first ever duet, which was written during lockdown. '60's World' marks Kim's 60th birthday and Marty's 60th wedding anniversary.

Now take a look at some singers' real names:

You can hear songs by Kim Wilde on Greatest Hits Radio.

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• KIm Wilde