Janet Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janet Jackson
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Jackson in 2015
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Janet Damita Jo Jackson
May 16, 1966 Gary, Indiana, U.S.
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| Years active | 1974–present |
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| Partner(s) | Jermaine Dupri (2002–2009) |
| Children | 1 |
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| Family | Jackson family |
| Awards | Full list |
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Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is known for her creative music and exciting stage shows. Her music and dance moves helped make MTV popular. She also helped break barriers for women and Black artists in music. Her songs often talked about important social issues. This made her a role model for many young people.
Janet is the youngest of ten children in the famous Jackson family. She started her career as a child actress. She appeared in TV shows like Good Times (1977–1979), Diff'rent Strokes (1980–1984), and Fame (1984–1985). In 1982, she signed a music contract with A&M Records. She became a huge pop star after releasing her albums Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989).
Her work with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis mixed many music styles. This helped her music become popular across different genres. It also influenced a new music style called new jack swing. In the 1990s, Janet became one of the highest-paid artists. She signed big contracts with Virgin Records. She also starred in the film Poetic Justice (1993). Her albums Janet (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997) were very successful. Billboard magazine named her the second most successful artist of that decade in the United States.
Her seventh album, All for You, came out in 2001. Around this time, she was honored with the first MTV Icon special. By the end of 2001, she had ten number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100. This put her in a special group with her brother Michael. After a controversial performance in 2004, she faced challenges in her career. She released her tenth album, Discipline (2008), with Island Records. In 2015, she started her own record label, Rhythm Nation. She has continued to make music and perform. Her recent Together Again Tour (2023–2024) was her most successful tour ever.
Janet Jackson has sold over 100 million records. This makes her one of the world's best-selling music artists. She holds records for having many songs in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. She is also the only artist to have seven top-five songs from one album (Rhythm Nation 1814). In 2019, she was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Contents
Janet Jackson's Early Life and Career
Growing Up in the Jackson Family
Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966, in Gary, Indiana. She was the youngest of ten children in the Jackson family. Her family lived in a small house. Her mother, Katherine Esther Jackson, played music. Her father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, was a crane operator and played guitar.
Janet grew up with two sisters and six brothers. Her brothers started performing as the Jackson 5 when she was young. In 1969, they signed a record deal. The family then moved to Los Angeles. Janet first wanted to be a horse racing jockey or a lawyer. But she decided to pursue entertainment after recording herself singing.
Starting Her Entertainment Journey
At age seven, Janet performed with the Jackson 5 in Las Vegas. She began acting in the TV show The Jacksons in 1976. In 1977, she got a main role as Penny Gordon Woods in the sitcom Good Times. She later appeared in A New Kind of Family. She also had a recurring role on Diff'rent Strokes as Charlene Duprey. Janet also played Cleo Hewitt in Fame.
When Janet was fifteen, her father helped her get a contract with A&M Records. Her first album, Janet Jackson, came out in 1982. It reached No. 63 on the Billboard 200 chart. Her second album, Dream Street, was released two years later. Both albums were mostly bubblegum pop music.
Rise to Stardom: Control and Rhythm Nation
Taking Control of Her Music
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After her second album, Janet decided to manage her own career. She wanted to be independent from her family. She teamed up with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They worked to create music that would appeal to many people. Her third album, Control, was released in February 1986.
The album quickly went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It sold over ten million copies worldwide. Control was praised for being bold and mature for a young artist. It had five top-five songs, including "What Have You Done for Me Lately" and "Nasty". "When I Think of You" became her first No. 1 hit. Control won many awards, including six Billboard Awards and four American Music Awards.
This album helped Janet become a star in her own right. The songs were about empowerment and self-defense. The album mixed dance-pop, industrial music, hip-hop, and R&B. This influenced the new jack swing genre. The music videos for Control were very popular on MTV. They helped MTV become more diverse in its music programming.
Uniting Through Rhythm Nation
Janet released her fourth album, Rhythm Nation 1814, in September 1989. Her record label wanted another album like Control. But Janet chose to include social messages in her music. She wanted her music to make people think about issues like injustice and crime.
The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It sold over 12 million copies worldwide. Rolling Stone magazine noted Janet's growth as an artist. The album had seven top-five songs on the Hot 100. This was a historic achievement.
The "Rhythm Nation" music video is famous for its choreography. Janet's military-style outfit also made her a fashion icon. The video for "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" showed Janet's new, more confident style. Rhythm Nation 1814 was the best-selling album of 1990. It won fifteen Billboard Awards. The Rhythm Nation 1814 short film won a Grammy Award.
Janet's Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990 was very successful. She also started the "Rhythm Nation Scholarship". She donated money from the tour to support education. Janet received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was recognized for her music and charity work.
Janet's Continued Success and Evolution
Exploring New Sounds and Film Roles
In 1991, Janet signed a huge deal with Virgin Records. This made her one of the highest-paid artists at the time. Her fifth album, Janet, was released in May 1993. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It sold over 14 million copies worldwide.
The album had many hit singles. "That's the Way Love Goes" won a Grammy Award. It was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. Janet took a bigger role in writing and producing this album. She explored different music styles, including contemporary R&B and hip-hop.
In July 1993, Janet made her film debut in Poetic Justice. Her performance was praised. Her song "Again," written for the film, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. Janet's image on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine became very famous.
Her Janet World Tour was known for its amazing showmanship. It was like a big theatrical show. In 1995, Janet collaborated with her brother Michael on the song "Scream". The music video for "Scream" was very expensive. It won a Grammy Award.
Janet's first greatest hits album, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996, came out in 1995. The song "Runaway" was a top ten hit. Janet renewed her contract with Virgin Records for an even bigger amount. This made her the highest-paid recording artist at that time.
The Velvet Rope and New Challenges
Janet faced personal challenges during this time. She channeled her experiences into her sixth album, The Velvet Rope, released in October 1997. She also changed her look with red hair and piercings. The album explored themes of belonging and social issues.
Critics called it her "most daring" and "most accomplished album." It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It sold over eight million copies worldwide. The song "Got 'til It's Gone" won a Grammy Award. "Together Again" became her eighth number-one hit. It sold six million copies worldwide.
The Velvet Rope was praised for its positive messages about same-sex relationships and fighting prejudice. Janet donated money from "Together Again" to AIDS research. She went on The Velvet Rope Tour, which was praised for its theatrics and her performance. The HBO special of the tour was watched by many people. Janet donated part of the tour's sales to help young people.
She also sang on songs with other artists like Shaggy and Busta Rhymes. In 1999, Janet received the Legend Award at the World Music Awards. Billboard ranked her as the second most successful artist of the decade.
Film Success and All for You
In July 2000, Janet starred in her second film, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, with Eddie Murphy. The film was a box office success. Her song "Doesn't Really Matter" from the film's soundtrack became her ninth number-one song.
Before her seventh album, MTV honored Janet with the first "MTV Icon" ceremony. This celebrated her impact on music and pop culture. The American Music Awards also gave her an Award of Merit.
Janet's seventh album, All for You, was released in April 2001. It debuted at number one with her highest first-week sales ever. The album was a return to upbeat dance music. The lead single, "All for You", became a huge radio hit. It topped the Hot 100 for seven weeks. It also won a Grammy Award.
In July 2001, Janet started the All for You Tour. It was also shown as an HBO concert special. She donated part of the tour's money to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Later Career and Recent Activities
Super Bowl Incident and Its Aftermath
In February 2004, Janet performed at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. During her performance with Justin Timberlake, there was a "wardrobe malfunction." This caused a lot of discussion. Janet apologized, saying it was an accident. Timberlake also apologized.
After this, Janet faced challenges. Some radio stations and TV channels reduced her airplay. Her eighth album, Damita Jo, was released in March 2004. It debuted at number two. Despite the challenges, it sold millions of copies.
Janet continued to receive awards and honors. She was recognized as a role model by 100 Black Men of America. She also received a Humanitarian Award for her work with AIDS charities. The Super Bowl incident became one of the most searched events online. It even inspired the creation of YouTube.
New Music and Tours
Janet released her ninth album, 20 Y.O., in September 2006. The title referred to twenty years since her Control album. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The lead single, "Call on Me", was a number one hit on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. 20 Y.O. was nominated for a Grammy.
In 2007, she starred in the film Why Did I Get Married?. It was her third film to open at number one. Her performance was praised.
Janet signed with Island Records and released her tenth album, Discipline, in February 2008. It opened at number one. The first single, "Feedback", reached number nineteen on the Hot 100. Janet received the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards. This honored her support for equal rights in the gay community.
Her fifth concert tour, the Rock Witchu Tour, began in September 2008. In June 2009, her brother Michael passed away. Janet spoke about him at the 2009 BET Awards. She later performed a tribute to Michael at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
Janet's second greatest hits album, Number Ones, was released in November 2009. The song "Make Me" became her nineteenth number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. This made her the first artist to have number-one singles in four different decades.
Recent Projects and Recognition
In April 2010, Janet appeared in the film Why Did I Get Married Too?. Her performance was well-received. She also starred in the drama For Colored Girls in November 2010.
She went on her largest world tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, in 2011. She performed in 35 cities chosen by fans. Janet released a self-help book called True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself in February 2011. It became a New York Times Best Seller.
In 2015, Janet launched her own record label, Rhythm Nation. Her song "No Sleeep" was the first release. She also launched a luxury jewelry line. In August 2015, she began her Unbreakable World Tour. Her album Unbreakable was released in October 2015. It received positive reviews and debuted at number one.
In 2016, Janet postponed her tour to plan her family. She gave birth to her son, Eissa Al Mana, in January 2017. She resumed her tour in September 2017, renaming it the State of the World Tour. The tour focused on social messages like fighting racism and police brutality. Janet received the Billboard Icon Award in 2018. In 2019, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In May 2019, Janet started a Las Vegas residency called Metamorphosis. She also performed at festivals and celebrated the 30th anniversary of Rhythm Nation. In 2022, a two-part documentary about her life, Janet Jackson, premiered. In April 2023, she launched her successful Together Again Tour. A follow-up documentary series, Janet Jackson: Family First, is also planned.
Janet Jackson's Artistic Style
Music and Voice
Janet Jackson has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. While some critics have commented on her vocal power, others praise how her voice fits her music. Her producers often blend her vocals with strong beats and harmonies. This creates a unique sound.
Her music has many different styles. Her 1980s albums were influenced by Prince. She helped create a new sound that mixed funk, disco, and hip hop. She is known for combining pop and urban music with hip-hop elements.
Janet's song lyrics have changed over the years. In the 1980s, her songs were about self-empowerment and social issues. Control was about her journey to independence. Rhythm Nation 1814 shared messages of hope and unity. Later, her music explored themes of love and relationships.
Videos and Stage Performances
Janet's music videos and performances are inspired by musicals. She has worked with many famous choreographers. Her impact on pop music is huge. Many artists have been inspired by her dance moves and stage presence.
Her videos often look like live concerts or big musical shows. The "Rhythm Nation 1814" film used street dancing. This showed equality and unity. Her music videos also helped promote freedom of expression for young women.
Janet received the MTV Video Vanguard Award for her contributions to music videos. She was also the first artist honored with the MTV Icon tribute. Her concerts are known for their amazing theatrics and special effects. They are like big Broadway shows.
While some early performances used pre-recorded vocals, critics noted her strong live singing in later, smaller shows. She is praised for her ability to dance intensely while still delivering powerful vocals.
Influences on Janet Jackson
Janet says Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge are big inspirations for her. She is also a huge fan of Joni Mitchell. She admires Tina Turner for her strength. Other artists who inspired her include Tracy Chapman, Sly and the Family Stone, U2, and Bob Dylan. In her early career, she also looked up to her brothers Michael and Jermaine.
Janet Jackson's Legacy
Janet Jackson has created her own path in the entertainment world. She is known as a "superstar" in her own right. She is often compared to other huge artists like Madonna and her brother Michael. She has been called the "Queen of Pop."
Janet has also helped break racial barriers in the music industry. She, along with other Black artists, achieved huge success in mainstream pop music. She is known for her smart business decisions. This gave her creative freedom and financial success. She is a model of how artists can reinvent themselves.
Music experts say Janet helped shape modern R&B. Her music blended different genres and sounds. Her song "Nasty" influenced the new jack swing genre. In 2021, her album Rhythm Nation 1814 was added to the National Recording Registry. This recognized its cultural importance.
Billboard magazine has ranked Janet as one of the most successful artists in history. She holds records for having many top ten hits. She is one of the top-selling artists of all time. She has received many Billboard Music Awards.
Janet's music and choreography have inspired many performers. Artists like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Ciara have been influenced by her. She set the standard for singer-dancers in pop culture. She also showed how musicians can have successful acting careers. Her film Poetic Justice inspired fashion trends, like her famous box braids.
Personal Life
At age 18, Janet Jackson married singer James DeBarge in 1984. Their marriage was ended in 1985. In 1986, she started dating dancer and director René Elizondo Jr.. They married secretly in 1991. Their marriage became public when they separated in 1999. Their divorce was finalized in 2003. From 2002 to 2009, Janet dated music producer Jermaine Dupri.
Janet met Qatari businessman Wissam Al Mana in 2006. They started dating in 2010 and married privately in 2012. In January 2017, when she was 50, Janet gave birth to their son, Eissa Al Mana. They separated in April 2017.
Discography
Studio albums
- Janet Jackson (1982)
- Dream Street (1984)
- Control (1986)
- Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
- Janet (1993)
- The Velvet Rope (1997)
- All for You (2001)
- Damita Jo (2004)
- 20 Y.O. (2006)
- Discipline (2008)
- Unbreakable (2015)
Filmography
- Good Times (1977–1979)
- Diff'rent Strokes (1980–1984)
- Fame (1984–1985)
- Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
- Poetic Justice (1993)
- Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)
- Why Did I Get Married? (2007)
- Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010)
- For Colored Girls (2010)
- Janet Jackson (2022)
Tours and Residencies
Concert tours
- Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990 (1990)
- Janet. World Tour (1993–1995)
- The Velvet Rope Tour (1998–1999)
- All for You Tour (2001–2002)
- Rock Witchu Tour (2008)
- Number Ones, Up Close and Personal World Tour (2011)
- Unbreakable World Tour (2015–2016)
- State of the World Tour (2017–2019)
- Janet Jackson: A Special 30th Anniversary Celebration of Rhythm Nation (2019)
- Together Again Tour (2023–2024)
Concert residencies
- Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis (2019)
- Janet Jackson: Las Vegas (2024–2025)
Written Works
- True You (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Janet Jackson para niños
- Honorific nicknames in popular music
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of best-selling music artists in the United States
- List of dancers
