We all have fond memories of staring at Janet Jackson’s Rolling Stone cover photo, but the truth is, Janet Jackson is a rock goddess. Blasting through racial and sexual barriers for two decades, Janet has made it clear to all of her fans that she’s in charge of her own career. Growing up in the Jackson family as the younger sister of the super popular Jackson 5, Janet was already aware of the pressures that came with being a superstar. Her interests branched out into several directions, first appearing on stage at seven before her TV debut in 1977 on Norman Lear’s “Good Times.” She soon popped up in other successful shows like “Diff’rent Strokes” and “A New Kind of Family” before landing a role on “Fame.”
In 1982, Janet released her first self-titled album. Her next album, Control, introduced Janet to the Billboard charts and the world. Her impressive assortment of number ones carried the new pop diva into her follow-up album Rhythm Nation 1814 that included even more hits like “Miss You Much,” “Rhythm Nation,” “Black Cat” and “Love Will Never Do (Without You).” Her album was such a success that she became the first artist to have seven songs on the Top 5 Billboard charts. She quickly followed up her sudden string of popularity with the just-as-successful Janet, Velvet Rope and All For You. Ranked 77th on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock n’ Roll list, Janet Jackson is a wrecking ball of fame that will continue to smash down barriers and make great music.
Janet Jackson on the Screen and Radio
Aside from her childhood TV work on the hit shows “Good Times,” “Diff’rent Strokes,” and “Fame,” Janet has also appeared alongside Eddie Murphy on the big screen in “The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps.” Janet’s vast musical collection includes the albums Control, Rhythm Nation, Janet and Velvet Rope.
Janet Says
On being competitive:
“I kinda see everyone as competition. I’m a very competitive person. But I think that’s good. Competition is great. And as long as it’s friendly and not a malicious thing, then I think it’s cool.”