Close friends and family members of Australian pop star Kylie Minogue are understandably troubled about Tuesday's revelation of her breast cancer diagnosis -- a disease the singer has long helped raise funds to eradicate. Minogue promptly postponed the Australian and Asian legs of her "Showgirl: The Greatest Hits" tour after the diagnosis was confirmed this week. The singer is undergoing immediate treatment in a Melbourne hospital, followed by an indefinite recuperation period at her parents' nearby home.

A source close to Minogue says that, while doctors believe they caught the cancer in its early stages, there are concerns. Cancer already has taken a toll on her family. Minogue's father Ron recently battled prostate cancer.

The good news: The singer's longtime on-again-off-again boyfriend, actor Olivier Martinez, reportedly has "been like a rock for Kylie ... incredibly supportive."

Her sister, Dannii, told the Australian press that while the news is upsetting, Kylie and her family "are very thankful for the endless messages of love and support" they had received from fans.

OH, OH, OPRAH! On top of everything else, Oprah Winfrey's lavish Legends Ball weekend in California included quite a load of "ice" -- nifty diamond earrings the Queen of Talk gave to her honorees. At a Friday luncheon at her Santa Barbara estate, Oprah gave each legend (like Maya Angelou, Coretta Scott King and Della Reese) a pair of diamond drop earrings. Younger "legends of tomorrow" (like Halle Berry, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys) received large hoop earrings encrusted with black and white diamonds.

Reactions? Angela Bassett let out a blood-curdling, joyful scream, and former Oscar nominee Pam Grier admitted, "I don't have diamonds. These are my first diamonds." When author Terry McMillan wondered, "Are they real?" Oprah laughed. "They are black diamonds, crazy love! Of course they're real!"

As event planner Colin Cowie put it, only Oprah would think of (or could afford) "serving diamonds after dessert."

GOLDEN DATE: One of Our Town's oldest community organizations -- the North Dearborn Association -- toasts its 50th anniversary at the Omni Ambassador East Thursday, with Mayor Daley accepting a tribute both for himself and his late father -- the city's CEO when the association was launched.

STAGE SET: Quick correction from Tuesday's column. Les Coney is vice chair and chairman-elect of the Goodman Theatre. Carol Prins continues as chairman of the theater's board until passing the torch in September.

SEEN ON SCENE: Sharon Gless, who dined at Gibsons Rush Street steakery the other night with hubby Barney Rosenzweig, is thrilled she's got another TV gig to replace "Queer as Folk." The former "Cagney & Lacey" star has been tapped for Lorne Michaels' upcoming NBC midseason replacement, "Thick & Thin," also starring Jessica Capshaw and Martin Mull. ... Ex-"Bachelorette" star Jamie Blythe, Cubs outfielder Ben Grieve, WGN's Dean Richards and Billy Idol's backup drummer/bodyguard Matt Young -- separately -- added to the eclectic mix at Harry Caray's. ... Michael Jordan was spied sipping Coronas, smoking stogies and dancing up a storm at Reserve. ... Sox pitcher Freddie Garcia, often joined by manager Ozzie Guillen, has become quite the regular at Sushisamba Rio.

CABARET CAPERS: Debby "You Light Up My Life" Boone -- whose new CD "Reflections of Rosemary" is a tribute to her late mother-in- law, Rosemary Clooney -- stars June 11-13 at Davenport's on North Milwaukee. Before that, "Wicked" cast member Toby Parker (Sarah Jessica Parker's brother) performs his solo show -- a one-night- only gig, June 6.

Bill Zwecker is seen at 6:20 a.m. and 11:25 a.m. weekdays on WBBM- Channel 2.

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