Information about Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, record producer, dancer, activist, and pop icon.

Jackson is ranked as the ninth most successful act in the history of rock and roll. Guinness World Records lists her as the world's most searched-for person in internet history.^[1] Her recent film Why Did I Get Married? became her third-consecutive film to open at number-one at the box office, ^[2] following and Poetic Justice.

Jackson scored ten number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, fifteen number ones on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and seventeen number ones on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart from 1986 to 2007. In addition to her commercial accomplishments Jackson has won five Grammy Awards, received an Oscar-nomination at the 66th annual Academy Awards and was awarded the first 'Icon' award from MTV.^[3]

Early life

Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, daughter of Katherine Esther (née Scruse) and Joseph Walter Jackson.^[4] She is the youngest of nine children. The family was of lower-middle-class and devout Jehovah's Witnesses. By the time she was a toddler, Janet's older brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael had already begun to perform on stage at nightclubs and theaters as the Jackson 5. In March 1969, the group signed with Motown Records, and by the end of the year the group recorded the first of their four consecutive number-one singles. The Jackson 5's success allowed the entire family to move to the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California in 1971. The Jacksons settled in a gated mansion that they referred to as "Hayvenhurst."

As a young child, Janet's career aspiration was to be a jockey. However, after the Jackson 5's success began to diminish, Joseph decided to bring use the rest of the children in the act. On April 9, 1974, Janet made her debut performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, alongside her eight older siblings. Janet quickly became a standout in the show, winning over crowds and critics with impersonations of Cher, Marie Osmond, Toni Tennille and Mae West.

In 1976, the Jackson family's Vegas act had caught the attention of CBS president Fred Silverman. The network was desperately trying to find a new variety act to replace its recently defunct The Sonny & Cher Show. Debuting on June 16, 1976, The Jacksons became the first television variety show starring an African-American family. The series lasted two seasons. As the 1980s began, Janet continued her career in television, in the sitcoms: Good Times, A New Kind of Family and Diff'rent Strokes, as well as the primetime drama Fame.

Recording career

1982–1985: Fledgling years

Although Janet never wanted to be a professional singer, she obeyed her father's orders and participated in various family musical projects. Her first recording was a duet with brother Randy on a song titled "Love Song for Kids" in 1978. When Janet was fifteen, Joe launched her recording career by arranging a contract with A&M Records. Her debut album Janet Jackson was released in 1982. Produced by soul singers Angela Winbush, René Moore and noted producer Leon F. Sylvers III (who had previously worked with the The Whispers, Lakeside, Shalamar, Dynasty) of the famed Sylvers family music group, the album reached the top ten on the Billboard R&B albums chart, spent 45 weeks in that chart's top 50, but had limited success on the Pop albums chart. The album yielded three singles: "Young Love," "Say You Do" and "Come Give Your Love to Me", each achieving moderate success on the R&B chart though not becoming pop hits. The Janet Jackson album sold just over 300,000 copies in the U.S. at its time of release and has currently about one million copies worldwide.^[5]

In 1984, Jackson's second album, Dream Street was released. It marked a musical progression from her debut, with more up-tempo productions by her brother Marlon Jackson and famed disco producer Giorgio Moroder (who produced songs for artists such as Donna Summer and Irene Cara). The album managed to peak at number nineteen on the R&B albums chart, however, sales of Dream Street were less than that of Jackson's debut album; selling about 250,000 units in the U.S. at its time of release. Current sales are just under one million world wide.^[6] Music critics at the time largely dismissed Janet as simply another sibling from the Jackson family assembly line. They may have been correct, at the time, as she'd later admitted that her heart wasn't into music then, she had a greater preference toward acting. These first two albums would largely be forgotten in the coming years.

1986–1987: Control era

After the limited successes of her first two albums, A&M Records hired producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to jump-start Jackson's career, figuring that musically, she would be a great match with the duo. Before Jackson left for the producers hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jam and Lewis were given the blessing of Jackson's father (her manager at the time), with the promise that they would not have Jackson's music sounding like Prince, whom the two had previously been associated with. Within months, Jackson, Jam, and Lewis crafted Jackson's breakthrough album, Control. Released in February 1986, Control the album spun off six Hot 100 hits in the U.S., five landing in the Top 5: "What Have You Done for Me Lately," "Nasty," "When I Think of You" (Jackson's first number one single on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart), "Control," and "Let's Wait Awhile" and the Top 20 hit "The Pleasure Principle." Most of the Control music videos, meanwhile, were choreographed by Paula Abdul. The album went to the top of the Billboard 200 album charts for two weeks, and has sold more than six million copies in America.

In early 1987, Control received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year, six Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards and three Soul Train Music Awards, including Album of the Year.

The same year, Jackson took another step toward independence by firing her father-manager, Joseph Jackson (although the back of her 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814 still carried the logo for Joseph's management company). Janet and her older sister Rebbie Jackson were the only two siblings who did not participate in the We Are the World video.

1989–1991: Rhythm Nation 1814 era

In 1989, Jackson began recording her fourth album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. 1814 referred to the year "The Star Spangled Banner" was written; in addition, 'R' is the 18th letter of the alphabet and 'N' the 14th, hence 1814. Though executives at A&M wanted an album similar to Control, Jackson instead created an album that, in addition to songs about love and relationships, had heady socially-conscious message.

Rhythm Nation 1814 peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart as well as the R&B Chart, sold six million copies in the US at its time of release, and became the first album to spawn seven Top 5 singles: "Alright," "Rhythm Nation," and "Come Back To Me"— as well as four number one singles: "Miss You Much," "Escapade," "Black Cat," and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)." The album would not see great success in the UK, however, struggling on both the album and singles charts in that country.

A black and white long-form video was created for the album; it included "Miss You Much," "The Knowledge," and the title track. The film was shot by director Domenic Sena (See also Rhythm Nation 1814 Film). The video represented a "coming together" of all people while taking a firm social stance on issues such as bigotry, ignorance, and education. The Rhythm Nation film went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Video.

"The Knowledge" is also said to be one of brother Michael's favourite songs by his own admission.

In 1990, Janet became the first artist to score a number-one hit simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock singles charts with "Black Cat." Billboard named Rhythm Nation 1814 the number-one selling album of the year. Jackson went on to win fifteen Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, four Soul Train Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards and her first Grammy Award. The Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour had an impressive attendance of more than two million people and remains the most successful debut tour by any artist.^[7]

1993–1995: janet. era

With the release of the "Rhythm Nation" album, Jackson fulfilled her contract with A&M Records, and much to the fury of A&M, signed a new deal with Virgin Records in 1991 for a reported $40 million; which at the time was the largest recording deal in history. (A&M felt it was a betrayal as the label stuck with Jackson through the less successful early years.) During the recording sessions for her next album, Jackson recorded a duet with Luther Vandross and featuring Bell Biv Devoe and Ralph Tresvant entitled "The Best Things in Life Are Free" for the Mo' Money original motion picture soundtrack. The single was released in the summer of 1992 and instantly became a smash success peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its second week and going all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. The soundtrack single would be the sole recording from Jackson until the following spring when the first single from her fifth studio album would be released. Janet simply entitled her fifth studio album janet. Released on May 18, 1993; the album became the first by a female artist to debut at number one during the Nielsen SoundScan era (but not the first overall album by a female artist to do so).^[8] The lead off single, "That's the Way Love Goes," became the first and only single in radio history to enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at number one. Within a few weeks it also became number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album reached number one in twenty-two countries, selling nine million copies worldwide at its time of release,^[9] and won several awards, including a Grammy. It was the fourth best-selling album of the year in the United States, and the eighth best-selling album on the year-end Billboard Top Albums chart during the following year. The album spawned five more Top 10 hit singles: "If," "Again" (which also peaked at #1 on the Hot 100), "Because of Love," "Any Time, Any Place" and "You Want This." In July 1993, Janet made her big-screen debut in the John Singleton directed, Poetic Justice. Janet's ballad, "Again" was featured on the film's soundtrack, and garnered a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song From A Motion Picture.^[10]

In September 1993, Janet appeared topless on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine with hands covering her breast. The cover became one of the most celebrated photos ever taken of a rock artist, and Rolling Stone named it their 'Most Popular Cover Ever' in 2000. Janet was criticized for the explicitness of the photograph. She insisted that the male hands covering her breasts belonged to her partner, René Elizondo. The janet. Tour, meanwhile, began in November 1993 and played for twelve full months at sold-out venues worldwide & her 1995 tour also featured support acts such as MN8

Janet collaborated with her brother, Michael, on the 1995 single, "Scream," the lead single from his album HIStory. The song (which has been said to lash out at the media) peaked at #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart becoming the first song ever to debut in the top 5, it featuring the most expensive music video of all time at $7,000,000 and was created with the help of director Mark Romanek.

In October 1995, Janet's first hits compilation, Design of a Decade 1986/1996, was released via A&M Records. The album focused chiefly on the hits she recorded for the label with the Control and Rhythm Nation albums. Due to contractual reasons, the only song from the janet. album that was featured was "That's the Way Love Goes"; however, on the internationally released version (in some countries titled "The Very Best of Janet Jackson"), it includes "Whoops Now" along with "That's the Way Love Goes". Janet recorded two new songs for A&M to include on the album, "Runaway" and "Twenty Foreplay"; the former peaking at number three on the pop charts.

1997–1999: The Velvet Rope era

In 1996, Jackson renewed her contract with Virgin Records for a reported $80 million,^[11] which, at the time, made her the highest paid female recording artist of all time until Whitney Houston's deal in 2001 with Arista Records. During the recording of Jackson's sixth studio album, she reportedly suffered from clinical depression and anxiety—which fueled the concept behind 1997's The Velvet Rope. In August 1997, the album's lead single, "Got 'Til It's Gone" was released to radio and was moderately successful. The single sampled the Joni Mitchell classic, "Big Yellow Taxi" and featured a cameo appearance by rapper, Q-Tip. Fans were taken aback by the album's abrasive content. Songs dealing with domestic abuse, depression, self-esteem issues, homophobia, isolation, and S&M, made up the bulk of the album's design.

Velvet Rope's cover, shot by photographer Ellen von Unwerth, featured a red-haired Janet, with her head down and only the word Janet glazed over top of the image. The glazed letters were invisible except in reflection, so they do not appear in most pictures of the cover; they were not included on later pressings of the album. There was much speculation about the stories behind the songs, but Janet has not divulged much about them. The album's second single "Together Again" (an uptempo musical tribute to a friend who died of AIDS) topped the charts. She would have moderate success with the third and fourth singles; "I Get Lonely" and "Go Deep". A fifth single "Every Time" would not make the Hot 100. The album became Jackson's fourth number-one album on the Billboard 200^[12] and sold respectably at its time of release, although sales were significantly less than that of the "janet." album. The album did spend 74 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, thanks to the success of the second single "Together Again".^[13]

In 1998, Janet set out on a world tour, The Velvet Rope Tour—which took her on an international trek that included: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. As her world tour came to a close in 1999, Janet lent guest vocals to a number of songs by other artists, including: Shaggy's "Luv Me, Luv Me," for the soundtrack to How Stella Got Her Groove Back, the Grammy-nominated "God's Stepchild," from the Down on the Delta soundtrack, "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" with BLACKstreet, and "What's It Gonna Be" with Busta Rhymes. Janet also dueted with Elton John for the song, "I Know The Truth." As 1999 ended, Billboard Magazine ranked Jackson as the second most successful artist of the decade, behind Mariah Carey.

2000–2002: All for You era

In July 2000, Janet returned to the big screen, with her second film, , opposite Eddie Murphy. She also contributed to the film's soundtrack with the track, "Doesn't Really Matter", which became Janet's ninth number one pop hit. In March 2001, Janet was awarded a top honor American Music Award 'Award of Merit,' and became the first honoree of MTV's Icon celebration, which resulted in performances featuring Destiny's Child, N'Sync, Pink, Mıa, Usher, Macy Gray, Britney Spears and others.^[14]

Janet's seventh album, All for You, was released on April 24, 2001. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 selling 605,128 copies making All For You the biggest first-week sales total of Janet's career and would go on to sell more than three million copies in America.^[15] The album's title track topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for seven weeks. The title track also made radio and chart history when it was added to every pop, rhythmic and urban radio station that reports to the national trade magazine Radio & Records. "No other song has conquered all reporting stations in its first week at radio, let alone mastered three formats in one week" R&R's Kevin McCabe said. "All for You" also debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at #14, the highest debut ever for a single that wasn't commercially available.^[16] The second single, "Someone to Call My Lover," peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[17] She would have moderate success with "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)" featuring Carly Simon (remixed by rapper Missy Elliott) which would become a Top 30 hit. It would be the third and final single from the album.

In 2002, "All for You" won Jackson her fifth Grammy Award for "Best Dance Recording".^[18] Following this success, she collaborated with reggae singer Beenie Man on the song "Feel It Boy." Janet accepted an invitation to join the 2004 Super Bowl festivities.

2004–2006: Damita Jo era and the Wardrobe Malfunction

Main article: Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy

During the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004, Jackson performed with Justin Timberlake to a live audience of more than one hundred million people. During the performance, Janet sang along with Timberlake on his song "Rock Your Body." When Timberlake sang the lyric 'gonna have you naked by the end of this song,' he tore open Janet's top exposing her right breast, which was partially covered by a nipple shield.

Timberlake called the incident a "wardrobe malfunction." Janet apologized,^[19] calling it an accident, and saying that Timberlake was supposed to pull away the bustier and leave the red-lace bra intact; however, she later said to an interviewer for Genre magazine that she wished she had not apologized at all, due to the fact that it made her seem guilty to the public. CBS, the NFL, and MTV (CBS's sister network), which produced the halftime show, denied all responsibility under a hail of criticism. Jackson and Timberlake confirmed those denials, but the FCC continued an investigation. In addition to her initial written statement, Jackson also issued a public apology during a video broadcast stating:

In 2007, CBS asserted that Jackson and Timberlake had "independently and clandestinely" planned the so-called wardrobe malfunction without authorization.^[20]

Janet declined CBS's inviting her to appear at the 2004's The 46th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, on the condition that she make another public apology. Jermaine Dupri, Janet's boyfriend, left his post on the Grammy Awards committee after Janet refused to apologize again for the Super Bowl incident. The controversy surrounding the incident halted plans for Jackson to star in a made-for-TV biopic on the life on legendary singer Lena Horne for ABC-TV. Horne reportedly was displeased with the Super Bowl halftime antics and insisted that ABC pull Jackson from the project, which they did.

In March 2004, Jackson's eighth studio album, Damita Jo, was released, debuting at number two. Despite the album's strong debut, its singles: "Just a Little While," "I Want You," and "All Nite (Don't Stop)," failed to become Top 40 hits. "Damita Jo" would continue a sales slide in Jackson's album releases. Janet had described the album as 'a portrait of the many personalities living inside her.'^[21] Damita Jo sold one million in the US and just another one million worldwide.^[22] It did receive nominations from the American Music Awards, Billboard Awards, Source Music Awards, BET Music Awards, and Grammy Awards including Contemporary R&B Album of the Year although it failed to win any of the nominations. The videos for the singles were rarely shown (and in some cases, never shown) on MTV, VH1, or BET leading to rumors that the music channels had black-listed her.

Janet appeared as a host of Saturday Night Live on April 10, 2004, where she performed a skit that parodied the Super Bowl incident. Janet also appeared in the sitcom Will & Grace playing herself as sitcom character Jack McFarland auditioned to be her back-up dancer.

On June 15, 2005, Janet was awarded a Humanitarian Award by the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization on behalf of her work and involvement in raising money for AIDS charities. She accepted the award saying

2006: 20 Y.O. – Celebrating 20 Years of Control

Janet celebrated her 40th birthday with a birthday bash at Shereen Arazms Shag in Los Angeles. In attendance were many of her former good girl dancers—as well as singer Stevie Wonder, who serenaded her.^[23]

Jackson appeared on the cover of Us Weekly in June 2006 and it became the magazine's best selling issue ever, outselling issues with Angelina Jolie and Jessica Simpson on the cover.^[24]

Virgin Records released Jackson's ninth studio album, 20 Y.O., on September 26, 2006. 20 Years Old, a nod to the twentieth anniversary of Control (and said to reference to how young Janet feels). The album debuted at number two on Billboard's albums charts, selling over 250,000 copies in its first week. Janet launched a contest giving fans an opportunity to create the artwork for the album. The "Design Me" contest required participants to download images of Janet and create proposed covers for the album. Janet hand-picked dozens of images, new and old, to be used in the contest. She selected her top four favorites, which were used for the first one million pressings of 20 Y.O.^[25]

20 Y.O.'s first single "Call on Me", a duet with rapper Nelly, became a moderate hit, peaking at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; but topped the R&B singles chart. But the second single, "So Excited," failed on the pop charts. It did manage to become Jackson's seventeenth number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart, however. No subsequent singles were released. 20 Y.O. was certified platinum^[26] but sold less than its predecessor "Damita Jo". It was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Contemporary R&B Album. Jackson's boyfriend, Jermaine Dupree, who produced the album, was so upset with what he viewed as Virgin Records lack of promotion, that he quit his post at the label's R&B division. The release of 20 Y.O. satisfied Jackson's contract with Virgin Records. The 20 Y.O. tour was in talks for about 6 months but the idea has been scratched due to Jackson's impending move to another label. Jackson may tour for her next release.

In 2006, it was announced that Jackson was the "Most Searched in Internet History," and the "Most Searched for News Item," in the Guinness Book of World Records.^[27] In 2007, Jackson was ranked the 7th richest woman in the entertainment business by Forbes Magazine, amassing a fortune of over $150 million.^[28]

2007–present

Jackson starred in Tyler Perry's film, Why Did I Get Married?. Filming began on March 5, 2007^[29] and the film was released on October 12, 2007. It opened up at #1 in the box office, to generally positive reviews, raking in $21.5 million dollars.

In July 2007, Jackson had signed a record contract with Island Records (under the same ownership as her first label A&M Records); with her new album, to be released by 2008, under the supervision of label head LA Reid.^[30] The record is currently being recorded in North Miami, Florida. She is accompanied by Reid and Jermaine Dupri.^[31]

Jackson is also working on a new book that chronicles the yo-yo weight struggle that has been a major portion of her life.

Personal life

In 1984, at age eighteen, Jackson eloped with James DeBarge, a member of the singing group DeBarge. News of the couple's nuptials was reported on Entertainment Tonight. Jackson would later admit that the marriage was not a good one, and that the family—particularly Joe—disapproved of the union. Jackson was granted an annulment in March 1985. There have been allegations made by DeBarge's brother that Jackson and DeBarge produced a daughter who was born shortly after their breakup and lived with her aunt Rebbie Jackson. Jackson has refuted these rumors.^[32]

In 1991, Jackson and long-time lover/business partner René Elizondo Jr., were secretly married in a private ceremony. Hoping to avoid public scrutiny, the two sought to keep their marriage a closely guarded secret, while continuing to present themselves as simply live in lovers in the eye of the media. As the decade drew to a close, both Jackson and Elizondo admitted that they had become more business partners than a couple. In 1999, the two ended their eight year marriage. The public only found out about the marriage as the two were going through a divorce. In 2001, Rene Elizondo sued Jackson for $25 million.^[33] Their court battle ended in 2003 with the divorce finalized and Elizondo being awarded about half the amount he sued for.^[34]

Since 2001, Janet has been involved with hip-hop producer Jermaine Dupri. In the time that they've been together, there have been numerous rumors that the two have married, though they have consistently denied these reports although she admits that the two do live together. Dupri appeared in Janet's videos for "Someone to Call My Lover" and "I Want You," while Janet returned the favor by appearing in Dupri's video for his 2005 single, "Gotta Getcha."

In 2006, Jackson had gained 60 pounds. She went on a controversial *[Celebritydietsonline.com] diet to lose all the weight in 4 months. Her family was not surprised by the weight gain or the rapid loss, Jackson has been a yo-yo weight gainer her whole life. During the promotion of her 20 Y.O. album when she was on the Oprah show, she had admitted that she wanted to have children eventually. Oprah Winfrey immediately replied, "...well I guess it should happen soon..." with a concerned tone, since Janet had turned 40 years old at that time.

Discography

Main article: Janet Jackson discography

Studio albums 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: Janet Jackson's 10th studio album

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles 1986: "When I Think of You" 1989: "Miss You Much" 1990: "Escapade" 1990: "Black Cat" 1991: "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" 1993: "That's the Way Love Goes" 1993: "Again" 1997: "Together Again" 2000: "Doesn't Really Matter" 2001: "All for You"

U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles 1986: "What Have You Done for Me Lately" 1986: "Nasty" 1986: "Control" 1987: "Let's Wait Awhile" 1987: "The Pleasure Principle" 1989: "Miss You Much" 1989: "Rhythm Nation" 1990: "Escapade" 1992: "The Best Things in Life Are Free" 1993: "That's the Way Love Goes" 1994: "Any Time, Any Place" 1998: "I Get Lonely" 1999: "What's It Gonna Be?!" (Busta Rhymes featuring Janet Jackson) 2001: "All for You" 2006: "Call on Me" (with Nelly)

U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one singles 1986: "When I Think of You" 1987: "Control" 1987: "The Pleasure Principle" 1989: "Miss You Much" 1989: "Rhythm Nation" 1990: "Escapade" 1990: "Alright" 1993: "That's the Way Love Goes" 1993: "If" 1995: "Scream" (with Michael Jackson) 1997: "Together Again" 1998: "Go Deep" 2001: "All for You" 2001: "Someone to Call My Lover" 2004: "Just a Little While" 2004: "All Nite (Don't Stop)" 2007: "So Excited" (featuring Khia)

Other work

Television series 1977-1979: Good Times 1979-1980: A New Kind of Family 1980-1984: Diff'rent Strokes 1984-1985: Fame Films 1993: Poetic Justice 2000: 2007: Why Did I Get Married? DVD 1990: The Rhythm Nation Compilation 1995: Design of a Decade 1986/1996 1998: The Velvet Rope Tour - Live In Concert 2002: All for You (special edition CD+DVD) 2002: Live in Hawaii 2004: 2007: Janet Jackson: Exposed Tours 1990-1990: Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour 1993-1995: janet. Tour 1998-1999: The Velvet Rope Tour 2001-2002: All for You Tour

Achievements

• In 2007, Jackson's Control and janet. were listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as two of the 200 Definitive Albums of All Time, coming in at #87 and #151, respectively.^[35]
• In 2007, Jackson was named by Forbes and E! Entertainment Television as one of the twenty richest women in entertainment, coming in at #7.^[36]
• According to the 2007 edition of the Guinness Book of Records, Jackson is the most-searched person on the web.^[37]
• Jackson has sold 100 million albums worldwide and 75 million singles worldwide.^[38]
• In 2003, Jackson's Design of a Decade 1986/1996, Rhythm Nation 1814, Control, janet. and The Velvet Rope were listed on the BMG Music Club's 100 Biggest Selling Albums in the U.S. coming in at #9, #35, #58, #63 and #95, respectively.^[39]
• In 2003, Jackson's The Velvet Rope and Rhythm Nation 1814 were named by Rolling Stone Magazine as two of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, coming in at #256 and #275, respectively.^[40]
• Jackson's "Scream", with brother Michael, is featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the Most Expensive Music Video Ever Made. The video is the most expensive of all time at a cost of USD 7 million.^[41]
• "Scream" also became the first single in Billboard history to debut in the Top 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The single also made the highest debut on the Hot Dance Club Play chart at number twelve.^[42]
• Jackson's HBO special, The Velvet Rope: Live in Madison Square Garden, was watched by more than 15 million viewers. The two-hour concert crushed the ratings of all four major networks in homes that subscribed to HBO.^[43]
• Debuting at #19 on Billboard Radio Monitor R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, Jackson's "Call on Me" is the highest debuting single on that chart since TLC's "No Scrubs" debuted at no.13 in February, 1999.^[44]
• Releasing three albums in the 1990s, Jackson was named by Billboard as the second biggest female artist of the decade.^[45]
• Jackson is the only female artist in history to have five back-to-back #1 studio albums on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.^[46]
• Jackson is the first artist to have #1 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.^[47]
• Jackson is the only artist to have seven top five singles on the Hot 100 from one album , specifically Rhythm Nation 1814.^[48]
• With sixteen #1 hits on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, Jackson is the female artist with the second most #1 singles on that chart, second only to Aretha Franklin who has eighteen.^[49]
• Janet's biggest selling single worldwide is "Together Again"; in 1998 it was the 4th biggest selling single of the year in Europe (2nd biggest for a female, only outsold by Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On"). Worldwide sales according to Virgin Records are over 6 million copies, one of the largest selling singles ever from a female artist. "Together Again" spent nearly 50 weeks in the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, it also remains one of the longest charting hits in Billboard history. "Together Again" sold over 760,000 in the UK making it one of the biggest selling singles ever in the UK from a female artist, "Together Again" sold over 600,000 copies in Germany also earned a Platinum certification just 2 months after it was released. "Together Again", also went Platinum in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, South Africa, Italy, and even went Double Platinum in New Zealand.^[50]

See also

• Janet Jackson videography
• List of Janet Jackson awards and accolades
• Grammy nominations for Janet Jackson
• MTV Video Music Award nominations for Janet Jackson
• American Music Award nominations for Janet Jackson
• List of Janet Jackson B-sides, bonus tracks and unreleased songs
• Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy

References

External links

• Official website
• Official MySpace
• Janet Jackson Fansite
• Janet Jackson at the Internet Movie Database
• Janet Jackson at All Music Guide

•  • [ e] The Jackson Siblings
Maureen Reillette (Rebbie): 1950 • Sigmund Esco (Jackie): 1951 • Toriano Adaryll (Tito): 1953 • Jermaine La Jaune: 1954 • La Toya Yvonne: 1956 • Marlon David: 1957 • Michael Joseph: 1958 • Steven Randall (Randy): 1961 • Janet Damita Jo: 1966