Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966, in Gary, Indiana, as the youngest of ten children in the legendary Jackson family. After appearing in television shows throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times and Diff'rent Strokes, she signed with A&M Records in 1982. She achieved breakthrough success with her third album Control (1986), which she created independently of her family, establishing herself as a solo artist with innovative dance-pop and socially conscious music.

Jackson's artistic dominance continued through the late 1980s and 1990s with landmark albums Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989), Janet (1993), and The Velvet Rope (1997). Working extensively with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, she pioneered the new jack swing genre and became known for elaborate choreography, provocative imagery, and music addressing social issues. Her collaborations and videos became defining forces in MTV's evolution, breaking racial and gender barriers in pop music. She became a global icon and role model, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

Despite her massive success—including five Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019—Jackson faced significant industry setbacks following the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy, which resulted in radio blacklisting. She continued releasing music and performing throughout subsequent decades, including albums Discipline (2008) and Unbreakable (2015), and maintained her status as one of the world's best-selling and most influential artists through touring and cultural contributions.