Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

Who Is Janet Jackson?

Janet Jackson is an award-winning recording artist, actress, and one of the most influential figures in contemporary music. Born on May 16, 1966, in Gary, Indiana, she is the youngest child of the Jackson family, a renowned musical dynasty. Jackson rose to fame with iconic hit singles such as “Nasty,” “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “Together Again,” and “All for You.” With a career spanning decades, she has solidified herself as one of the best-selling artists of all time, boasting multiple multi-platinum albums like Control, Rhythm Nation 1814, and Janet. These successes were achieved in collaboration with the legendary production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In 2015, Jackson reunited with Jam and Lewis for Unbreakable, which became her seventh No. 1 album, reaffirming her continued relevance in the music industry.

Famous Family

Janet Jackson was born into a family steeped in musical history. Her parents, Katherine and Joseph Walter Jackson, raised nine children, with Janet being the youngest. Her brothers—Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, and Michael—formed the groundbreaking Motown group The Jackson Five in 1968, achieving international stardom with hits like “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save,” “ABC,” and “Dancing Machine.” The Jacksons’ influence on the music industry, especially through the meteoric rise of Michael Jackson, cast a long shadow over Janet’s early years.

Raised in a Jehovah’s Witness household, the Jackson children experienced a strict upbringing. However, tensions within the family were well-documented, especially regarding allegations of physical and emotional abuse by their father, Joseph. Janet’s sister La Toya Jackson famously published an autobiography detailing the family’s turbulent dynamics, though Janet and other family members have disputed some of her claims. The rise of Michael Jackson as a solo artist further strained family relationships, marking a period of both success and conflict for the Jacksons.

Early Career

Janet’s career began at a young age, with her first stage performance in 1974, where she sang and did impressions alongside her brother Randy in the Jackson family’s Las Vegas act. In 1976, she appeared on The Jacksons, a summer replacement television show, which led to an acting role in the popular TV series Good Times (1977-1979) as Penny, a character who gained significant attention. Jackson’s television career continued with roles in the sitcom A New Kind of Family (1979), the beloved series Different Strokes (1984-1985), and the teen drama Fame (1984-1985), based on the lives of students at a performing arts high school in New York City.

While pursuing acting, Jackson attended public school in Encino, California, before transferring to Valley Professional School, from which she graduated in 1984. During her time on Fame, Jackson gained independence from her family, spending time in New York and further distancing herself from their influence. In 1984, she eloped with James DeBarge, a member of the Motown group DeBarge, though the marriage was short-lived, and Jackson applied for an annulment in early 1985, which was granted later that year.

Janet Jackson: A Career Overview

‘Janet Jackson’ (1982)

Under the guidance of her brother Michael, Janet Jackson released her debut self-titled album in 1982. The album reached No. 84 on the pop charts and produced three notable singles: “Young Love,” “Give Your Love to Me,” and “Say You Do.” The album sold approximately 250,000 copies, mirroring the success of her follow-up, Dream Street, which featured contributions from her brothers.

‘Control’ (1986)

Jackson achieved her first major breakthrough in 1986 with Control, released under the A&M label. Produced in collaboration with the renowned team of Jimmy Jam (James Harris III) and Terry Lewis, the album was a commercial and critical success, selling eight million copies worldwide. It included chart-topping singles such as “When I Think of You,” as well as Top 5 hits like the title track “Control” and “What Have You Done for Me Lately.” Control earned Jackson three Grammy nominations and nine American Music Awards, of which she won two. The album also showcased her newfound confidence and stage presence, with choreography by Paula Abdul that cemented her reputation as an influential performer.

‘Rhythm Nation 1814’ (1989)

In 1989, Jackson released Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, a socially conscious album that featured a blend of dance, R&B, and pop. With Jam and Lewis at the helm, the album produced multiple hit singles, including the No. 1 songs “Miss You Much,” “Escapade,” “Black Cat” (written by Jackson), and “Love Will Never Do (Without You).” The album sold around eight million copies globally and became the first in history to spawn seven Top 5 hits from a single album. Rhythm Nation 1814 won three American Music Awards and showcased Jackson’s pioneering role in music videos and live performances.

‘Janet’ (1993)

In 1991, Janet Jackson signed a historic $32 million contract with Virgin Records, the largest recording deal at the time. The following year, she released Janet, her fifth studio album, which signaled a new chapter in her career with its more sensual and mature themes. The album sold over six million copies and produced hits like “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “If,” and “Any Time, Any Place.” The latter track earned Jackson her 14th gold single, tying her with Aretha Franklin for the most gold singles by a female solo artist. Jackson also ventured into acting, starring in the film Poetic Justice alongside Tupac Shakur, with the song “Again” from the soundtrack receiving an Academy Award nomination.

‘The Velvet Rope’ (1997)

The Velvet Rope, released in 1997, marked an edgier phase in Jackson’s career, exploring themes such as sexuality, mental health, and social alienation. While the album didn’t achieve the same sales as her previous blockbusters, it produced the No. 1 hit “Together Again,” a tribute to those lost to AIDS, and the Grammy-winning video for “Got ‘Till It’s Gone,” which featured a sample from Joni Mitchell. During this period, Jackson’s personal life also made headlines when her marriage to her manager, Rene Elizondo, was revealed to the public after they had secretly married eight years earlier.

‘All For You’ (2001)

Jackson returned to the pop forefront in 2001 with All For You, an album that continued the sexually explicit themes of The Velvet Rope. The album produced another No. 1 hit with “Doesn’t Really Matter” from the Nutty Professor II soundtrack, and was followed by a successful world tour. All For You cemented Jackson’s status as a pop powerhouse, bolstered by a reported $80 million recording deal with Virgin. The album was praised for its infectious dance tracks and further solidified her place in pop music history.

Super Bowl Halftime Show Incident

Janet Jackson’s career trajectory faced a momentary setback following the infamous incident during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. During a live performance with Justin Timberlake, a “wardrobe malfunction” occurred in which Jackson’s right breast was exposed. Both Jackson and Timberlake stated that the incident was unintentional, but it ignited a significant public uproar and drew scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In the aftermath, Jackson withdrew from appearances at the Grammy Awards and canceled her participation in a television project where she was set to portray Lena Horne, at the request of the late actress.

In 2017, when Timberlake was confirmed as the headliner for Super Bowl LII, the hashtag #JusticeForJanet gained traction on social media, with many fans urging Timberlake to publicly apologize to Jackson for the 2004 incident. In a subsequent interview, Timberlake addressed the controversy, revealing that he and Jackson had reconciled and resolved any lingering issues from the event.

Music, Film, and Family Tragedy

Jackson’s career rebounded with the release of several successful albums. Her 2004 album Damita Jo included collaborations with Kanye West and Jay-Z, followed by 20 Y.O. in 2006, which featured the hit single “Call on Me” with Nelly. In 2008, Jackson released Discipline, which debuted at No. 1 and included the popular track “Feedback,” showcasing her continued musical relevance.

In addition to her music, Jackson also found success in the film industry. She was part of the ensemble cast of Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? (2007), a commercial hit that led to a 2011 sequel. Jackson also starred in Perry’s 2010 film For Colored Girls, an adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s acclaimed work.

Tragedy struck Jackson and her family in June 2009 with the sudden death of her brother, Michael Jackson, due to cardiac arrest. Janet gave an emotional speech at the BET Awards just days after his passing, amid ongoing reports of family disputes over Michael’s estate and his children.

Personal Life: Marriage and Motherhood

In 2011, Janet Jackson released True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, a candid memoir that focused on body image issues and her struggles with weight. The book became a New York Times bestseller and was co-written with journalist David Ritz.

Jackson’s personal life also garnered attention when she married Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana in 2012, after a period of dating music producer Jermaine Dupri. The couple’s wedding was kept private, with their statement describing it as a “quiet, private and beautiful ceremony.” In 2016, Jackson announced she was pregnant with her first child, just weeks before her 50th birthday. She gave birth to a son, Eissa Al Mana, on January 3, 2017. However, in April 2017, reports emerged that Jackson and Al Mana had parted ways.

More Albums and Performances

Unbreakable

In June 2015, Janet Jackson released her laid-back single “No Sleeep,” which marked the beginning of a global tour. Later that year, in the fall, she unveiled her 11th studio album, Unbreakable. The album saw a reunion with long-time collaborators, producers Jam and Lewis, and was released independently under her own label, Rhythm Nation. Unbreakable became Jackson’s seventh No. 1 album, solidifying her status as one of only three pop artists—alongside Barbra Streisand and Bruce Springsteen—to achieve chart-topping albums in every decade from the 1980s onward.

In 2019, Jackson returned to the public eye with her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, she also had a highly successful four-month residency at the Park MGM hotel and casino in Las Vegas, and celebrated the 30th anniversary of Rhythm Nation with a reissue of the iconic album.

In February 2020, Jackson announced her plans for a new world tour in support of her upcoming album Black Diamond, scheduled for the summer of that year.

A&E/Lifetime Documentary Event

On January 28, 2022, the two-night documentary event JANET JACKSON. premiered on A&E and Lifetime, offering an intimate look at the life and career of the iconic artist.