Janet Jackson

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May 16, 1966

Janet Damita Jo Jackson

Rene Elizondo (31 March 1991 - 13 March 2000) (divorced)

James DeBarge (7 September 1984 - 18 November 1985) (annulled)

1982: Janet Jackson

1984: Dream Street

1986: Control

1989: Rhythm Nation 1814

1993: janet.

1997: The Velvet Rope

2001: All for You

2004: Damita Jo

2006: 20 Y.O.

2008: Discipline

Actress

For Colored Girls (2010)

Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010)

The Tyler Perry Show (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Why Did I Get Married? (2007)

You Rock My World (TV short) (2001)

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

Poetic Justice (1993)

Fame (TV series) (25 episodes, 1984-1985)

The Love Boat (TV series) (2 episodes, 1985)

Diff'rent Strokes (TV series) (10 episodes, 1980-1984)

Thriller (TV short) (1983)

A New Kind of Family (TV series) (3 episodes, 1979)

Good Times (TV series) (48 episodes, 1977-1979)

Writer

Rhythm Nation 1814 (short) (creator / writer) (1990)

Producer

Janet Jackson: The Rhythm Nation Compilation (video) (executive producer) (1990)

Appearances

Make Your Mark: The Ultimate Dance Off - Shake It Up Edition (TV movie) (2011)

The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV series) (3 episodes, 2006-2011)

Piers Morgan Tonight (TV series) (1 episode, 2011)

Larry King Live (TV series) (4 episodes, 2008-2010)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV series) (4 episodes, 2001-2010)

TV One Night Only: Live from the Essence Music Festival (TV movie) (2010)

The 5 O'Clock Show (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

EntertainmentTonight (TV series) (17 episodes, 2006-2010)

American Idol (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

The Graham Norton Show (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Made in Hollywood (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

Vancouver 2010: XXI Olympic Winter Games (TV mini-series) (1 episode, 2010)

Michael Jackson: The Inside Story - What Killed the King of Pop? (TV documentary) (2010)

The X Factor (TV series) (1 episode, 2009)

2009 American Music Awards (TV special) (2009)

Fantástico (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2009)

E! Investigates: Last Days of Michael Jackson (TV documentary) (2009)

MTV Video Music Awards 2009 (TV special) (2009)

Michael Jackson: Stars Remember the Time (TV documentary) (2009)

Michael Jackson Unmasked (TV movie) (2009)

Michael Jackson Memorial (TV movie) (2009)

Punkt 12 (TV series) (1 episode, 2009)

BET Awards 2009 (TV special) (2009)

The Tyra Banks Show (TV series) (1 episode, 2008)

Janet Jackson: 2008 Rock Witchu Tour (video documentary short) (2008)

America United: In Support of Our Troops (TV movie) (2008)

Eigo de shabera-night (TV series) (1 episode, 2008)

19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (TV special) (2008)

NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show (TV movie) (2008)

Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV series) (5 episodes, 2006-2008)

Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2008 (TV special) (2008)

Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV series) (1 episode, 2008)

What Perez Sez (TV series) (1 episode, 2008)

39th NAACP Image Awards (TV special) (2008)

Extra (TV series) (1 episode, 2008)

Live with Regis and Kelly (TV series) (1 episode, 2008)

Good Morning America (TV series) (2 episodes, 2004-2007)

Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton (TV documentary) (2007)

Extreme Hollywood (TV series) (1 episode, 2007)

Forbes 20 Richest Women in Entertainment (TV movie) (2007)

B InTune TV (TV series) (2 episodes, 2006-2007)

The 2006 Billboard Music Awards (TV special) (2006)

In the Mix (TV series) (1 episode, 2006)

The Turn On (TV series) (1 episode, 2006)

Legends Ball (TV documentary) (2006)

BET Awards 2006 (TV special) (2006)

The Work of Director Mark Romanek (video documentary) (2005)

New Year's Rockin' Eve 2005 (TV special) (2004)

2004 Radio Music Awards (TV special) (2004)

MOBO Awards 2004 (TV special) (2004)

Will & Grace (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

From Janet. To Damita Jo: The Videos (video documentary) (2004)

The Teen Choice Awards 2004 (TV special) (2004)

A Galicia vente xá (TV movie) (2004)

Maxim Hot 100 (TV documentary) (2004)

4th Annual BET Awards (TV movie) (2004)

20h10 pétantes (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

Top of the Pops (TV series) (14 episodes, 1987-2004)

Anke Late Night (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

TV total (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

Rove Live (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

CD:UK (TV series) (2 episodes, 2004)

Saturday Night Live (TV series) (2 episodes, 1994-2004)

On-Air with Ryan Seacrest (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

Late Show with David Letterman (TV series) (2 episodes, 2001-2004)

The 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (TV special) (2004)

T4 (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

Intimate Portrait (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2004)

Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show (TV special) (2004)

Super Bowl XXXVIII (TV special) (2004)

BBC World News (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

50 Sexiest Video Moments (TV documentary) (2003)

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories (TV special documentary) (2002)

Essence Awards (TV special) (2002)

American Bandstand's 50th Anniversary Celebration (TV special) (2002)

Star Boulevard (TV series documentary short) (1 episode, 2002)

The 44th Annual Grammy Awards (TV special) (2002)

Janet Jackson: Live in Hawaii (TV documentary) (2002)

The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV series) (3 episodes, 1998-2002)

Exclusif (TV series) (1 episode, 2002)

MTV Icon: Aerosmith (TV documentary) (2002)

MTV Europe Music Awards 2001 (TV special documentary) (2001)

The Concert for New York City (TV special documentary) (2001)

MTV Video Music Awards 2001 (TV special) (2001)

Total Request Live (TV series) (1 episode, 2001)

MTV 20: Live & Almost Legal (TV documentary) (2001)

CNN World Beat (TV series) (1 episode, 2001)

MTV20: Everybody Talk About Pop Music! (TV documentary) (2001)

Nosolomúsica (TV series) (1 episode, 2001)

H1 Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin (TV special) (2001)

Wetten, dass..? (TV series) (1 episode, 2001)

MTV Icon: Janet Jackson (TV special documentary) (2001)

Sen kväll med Luuk (TV series) (1 episode, 2001)

The 28th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (2001)

The 2001 Billboard Music Awards (TV movie) (2001)

2000 MTV Movie Awards (TV special) (2000)

The 2000 World Music Awards (TV special) (2000)

Making the Video (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2000)

2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (TV special) (2000)

2000 MTV Video Music Awards (TV special) (2000)

1999 MTV Video Music Awards (TV special) (1999)

The 1999 Source Hip-Hop Music Awards (TV special) (1999)

The 26th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (1999)

Hollywood Aids (TV documentary) (1998)

VH1 Fashion Awards (TV special) (1998)

Janet: The Velvet Rope (TV documentary) (1998)

TFI Friday (TV series) (1 episode, 1998)

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (TV special) (1998)

Friday Night's All Wright (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 1998)

Janet Jackson (TV special documentary) (1998)

Turrón y... cuenta nueva (TV movie) (1997)

Música sí (TV series) (1 episode, 1997)

Des O'Connor Tonight (TV series) (1 episode, 1997)

MTV Europe Music Awards 1997 (TV special) (1997)

3rd Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards (TV special) (1997)

MTV Video Music Awards 1997 (TV special) (1997)

Smash Hits Poll Winners Party 1997 (TV special) (1997)

Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II (video documentary) (1997)

Janet Jackson: Design of a Decade 1986/1996 (video documentary) (1996)

MTV Video Music Awards 1995 (TV special) (1995)

Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory (video documentary) (1995)

Michael & Janet Jackson: Scream - HIStory in the Making (TV documentary) (1995

25th Anniversary Essence Awards (TV special) (1995)

Elvis: The Tribute (TV documentary) (1994)

The 66th Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (1994)

24 Hours in Rock and Roll (TV documentary) (1994)

The Jackson Family Honors (TV special documentary) (1994)

The 51st Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special) (1994)

1993 MTV Video Music Awards (TV special) (1993)

The 35th Annual Grammy Awards (TV special) (1993)

Hollywood's Leading Ladies with David Sheehan (TV documentary) (1993)

The 6th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (TV special) (1992)

1990 Billboard Music Awards (TV special) (1990)

1990 MTV Video Music Awards (TV special) (1990)

Pero ¿esto qué es? (TV series) (1 episode, 1990)

The 17th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (1990)

Janet Jackson: The Rhythm Nation Compilation (video) (1990)

Rhythm Nation 1814 (short) (1990)

The Royal Variety Performance 1989 (TV special) (1989)

America's Top 10 (TV series) (1 episode, 1989)

1987 Power Hits: New Year's Eve Countdown (TV special) (1987)

Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series) (2 episodes, 1986-1987)

The 4th Annual Black Gold Awards (TV special) (1987)

The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards (TV special) (1987)

The 14th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (1987)

The 29th Annual Grammy Awards (TV special) (1987)

Cap d'any a TV3 (TV movie) (1986)

Solid Soul (TV series) (1 episode, 1986)

Soul Train (TV series documentary) (3 episodes, 11982-1986)

The 13th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (1986)

The 12th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (1985)

American Bandstand (TV series) (1 episode, 1984)

Musikladen (TV series) (1 episode, 1983)

The 10th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (1983)

The Jacksons (TV series) (12 episodes, 1976-1977)

Dinah! (TV series) (1 episode, 1975)

ASCAP Awards

1995 Won ASCAP Award Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures for: Poetic Justice (1993). Shared with: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for: the song "Again"

Academy Awards

1994 Nominated Oscar Best Music, Original Song for: Poetic Justice (1993). Shared with: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for: the song "Again"

BMI Film & TV Awards

2001 Won Most Performed Song from a Film for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) (Black Ice Publishing) for: the song "Doesn't Really Matter"

Black Reel Awards

2011 Won Black Reel Best Ensemble for: For Colored Girls (2010). Shared with: Kimberly Elise, Richard Lawson, Hill Harper, Omari Hardwick, Thandie Newton, Macy Gray, Kerry Washington, Michael Ealy, Tessa Thompson, Loretta Devine, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose & Whoopi Goldberg

2011 Nominated Black Reel Best Supporting Actress for: For Colored Girls (2010)

2001 Nominated Black Reel Best Song for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) for: the song "Doesn't Really Matter"

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

2001 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress – Comedy for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

2001 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Song from a Movie (Internet Only) for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) for: the song "Doesn't Really Matter"

GLAAD Media Awards

2008 Won Vanguard Award

Golden Globes, USA

1994 Nominated Golden Globe Best Original Song - Motion Picture for: Poetic Justice (1993). Shared with: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for: the song "Again"

Grammy Awards

1990 Won Grammy Best Music Video - Long Form for: Rhythm Nation 1814 (1990). Shared with: Dominic Sena (video director); Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris (video directors/video producers); Aristides McGarry (video producer)

Image Awards

2011 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for: Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010)

2008 Won Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for: Why Did I Get Married? (2007)

1999 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Performance in a Variety Series/Special for: Janet: The Velvet Rope (1998) (TV)

1992 Won Chairman's Award

Kids Choice Awards

2002 Won Wannabe Award

2001 Nominated Blimp Award Favorite Movie Actress for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

MTV Movie Awards

1994 Won MTV Movie Award Best Female Performance for: Poetic Justice (1993)

1994 Won MTV Movie Award Most Desirable Female for: Poetic Justice (1993)

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As the baby of pop music’s best known family, Janet Jackson could have spent her career in the shadow of her eight siblings, particularly brother Michael. Instead, with the help of some savvy creative and professional advisers outside the family, Janet established herself as the preeminent pop-funk diva of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Her wispy voice was a pale echo of Michael’s, but on Janet’s albums and in her videos and live performances, which revealed a crisp, athletic dance technique not unlike her brother’s – singing wasn’t the point. Her slamming beats, infectious hooks and impeccable production values were perfectly suited to the breezy zeal with which she declared her social and sexual independence.

As a young child Jackson was a tomboy who aspired to be a jockey. When she was seven, though her father, Joseph encouraged her to join her brothers – by then famous as the Jackson 5 – in their music and variety act. (Sister La Toya joined them for several shows in 1974; the following year, La Toya, eldest sister Rebbie and brother Randy were all in on the act, while brother Jermaine bowed out). Shows in Las Vegas resulted in a summer replacement TV show in 1976 on CBS, which led Janet to roles on the popular sitcoms Good Times and Diff’rent Strokes.

Next Jackson secured a contract with A&M Records, and in 1982, while still managed and creatively guided by her father; she released a forgettable debut album, “Janet Jackson”. The album did yield a #6 R&B single, “Young Love”. Another TV role on the series Fame followed, as did another unremarkable album. 1984’s “Dream Street” and another R&B hit, “Don’t Stand Another Chance” (#9). Also in 1984, at the age of 18 Jackson defied her family by marrying singer James DeBarge, whose fledgling R&B sibling act DeBarge was being hyped as a successor to the Jacksons. The marriage was annulled after less than a year; but the seeds of Jackson’s independence from the family dynasty and her father in particular were firmly planted.

Then John McClain, an A&M executive and family friend, suggested that Jackson work with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis of the Time. Collaborating with these musician/writer/producers, Jackson recorded her breakthrough album, 1986’s “Control”, which topped the pop and R&B album charts and spawned numerous hits: “What Have You Done for Me Lately” (#4, Pop, #1 R&B), “Nasty” (#3 pop, #1 R&B), “When I Think of You” (#1 pop, #3 R&B), and in 1987, “Control” (#5 pop, #1 R&B), “Let’s Wait Awhile” (#2 pop, #1 R&B) and “The Pleasure Principle” (#14 pop, #1 R&B). Helping fuel these singles were Jackson’s highly energized, elaborately staged videos, most of which featured movie-musical-inspired choreography by Paula Abdul, who was discovered by Jackie Jackson, Abdul’s boyfriend during her L.A. Lakers cheerleading days.

Having asserted her adulthood and self-reliance with “Control”, by 1987 Jackson had dismissed her father as manager (as other siblings had done before her) before recording “Rhythm Nation 1814”. “Control’s” successor dealt with larger social issues, like the need for tolerance and found Jam and Lewis assuming more of the songwriting duties. (Years later, Jackson would also credit her boyfriend, René Elizondo Jr., for contributing ideas to many of her songs beginning with this album; it was known that he helped choreograph and eventually directed, some of her videos). “Rhythm Nation” hit #1 in the pop and R&B categories in 1989 and generated the smash singles “Miss You Much” (#1 pop and R&B) and in 1990, “Rhythm Nation” (#2 pop, #1 R&B), “Escapade” (#1 pop, #1 R&B), “Alright” (#4 pop, #2 R&B), “Come Back to Me” (#2 pop, #2 R&B), “Black Cat” (#1 pop, #10 R&B) and “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” (#1 pop, #3 R&B). To promote the album, Jackson embarked on her first major tour, which matched the energy and spectacle of her videos.

In 1991 Virgin Records owner Richard Branson lured Jackson away from A&M with a contract worth more than $30 million. Her last original hit with A&M was a 1992 duet with Luther Vandross, “The Best Things in Life Are Free” (#10, pop, #1 R&B), recorded for the soundtrack to the film “Mo’ Money”. In 1993 Jackson made her own movie debut as the heroine (opposite rapper Tupac Shakur) of director/screenwriter John Singleton’s “Poetic Justice”, for which she received lukewarm reviews but an Oscar nomination for the song “Again”.

That same year, Jackson’s Virgin album “janet” shot to the top of the pop and R&B charts, as did the single “That’s the Way Love Goes”. More Top 10 singles followed including “If” (#4,pop, #3 R&B, 1993) and “Again” (#1 pop, #7 R&B, 1994). Her new material was just as confrontational and more aggressively sexual, than her previous work had been; ditto for the accompanying tour, which featured Jackson in midriff-baring costumes, interacting suggestively with male dancers – indeed, more reminiscent of Madonna than Michael. While Janet’s once squeaky-clean image wasn’t shattered by scandal as her brother’s was, it was clear by the early ‘90s that the littlest Jackson was nobody’s baby and very much her own woman.

Jackson’s status as a hit-maker led her to help her brother Michael regain some credibility by collaborating with him on the duet and elaborate video for “Scream” (#5 pop, #2 R&B) in 1995. The same year, she also had a solo hit with “Runaway” (#3 pop, #6 R&B). She’d continue to please fans with her next album, “The Velvet Rope” (#1 pop, #2 R&B), in 1997. At times still sensual in nature – including a cover of Rod Stewart’s seduction song “Tonight’s the Night”, without a change in the gender of the woman being sung to – much of the album had a melancholy feel and self-doubting lyrics. While doing interviews to promote the album and its tour, Jackson admitted to dealing with depression and long-standing self-esteem issues while working on the album. It did produce its share of hits, including “Got ‘Til It’s Gone” (#3 R&B, 1997), based around a sample of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” and featuring the rapper Q-Tip. “Together Again” (#1 pop, #8 R&B, 1997) and “I Get Lonely” (#3 pop, #1 R&B, 1998), featuring the group BLACKstreet. In 1999 she enjoyed a hit with Busta Rhymes, “What’s It Gonna Be?!”, which hit the top of the R&B singles chart.

But Jackson’s life wasn’t everything it appeared to be. Fans were surprised when, in 2000, Jackson’s longtime creative and romantic partner, Elizondo filed for divorce from the singer after nine years of marriage. Although Elizondo was seen as a loving, stable presence in Jackson’s life, it had not been public knowledge that the couple had ever married. Janet explained that she’d wanted to protect the union from media scrutiny. Also in 2000 Jackson returned to acting, costarring with multiple versions of Eddie Murphy in “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps”, which featured Jackson’s “Doesn’t Really Matter” (#5, 2000). In 2001 Jackson released the double-platinum “All for You” (#1, 2001), featuring the #1 title track.

Salary

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) $5,000,000

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